On January 14, 2021, the CPI(M) has sent the following message to the LPRP.

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) greets the 11th Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and wishes it all success. We take this opportunity to greet all the members of the LPRP and the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The 11th Congress of the LPRP is being held under most excruciating times. The hollowness of the capitalist model of development was thoroughly exposed during this period. Many advanced and developing capitalist countries are still reeling under the impact of the global economic crisis and the resultant growing income and wealth disparities, unemployment and poverty. It is at such a time that the Covid-19 pandemic struck and further exposed their hollowness through their failure to protect the people of their respective countries. Health care systems in these countries collapsed under the strain of the pandemic, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of people.

Amidst such increasingly challenging, changing and unpredictable situation in the world and the severe outbreak of Covid-19, Laos has recorded constant growth with major achievements recorded in various areas. Significantly, the government led by the LPRP could ensure that the livelihoods of people of all ethnic groups improved and poverty reduction progressed as planned. The government led by the LPRP also performed exemplarily in controlling the spread of the pandemic, with the country registering one of the lowest numbers – with only 41 infected persons and most importantly, zero deaths. The performance of the LPRP speaks volumes about the superiority of the people’s democratic regime in Laos and its march towards socialism.

We note that the 11th Congress will review the achievements in the socio-economic development over the past five years under the leadership of the LPRP as well as draft future plans to finalise the targets for the next five years.

We are confident that the decisions of the 11th Congress would lead the country on the national socio-economic development path and ensure the continued nurturing of people’ democratic regime, strengthening foundations in its march towards socialism.

Dear Comrades,
In our country India, the economy is on a never seen before contraction, with widening income inequalities, increasing unemployment and accentuating poverty. There is an intense attack on the rights of the working class and the peasantry. Widespread protests are being held against these attacks. The more than 40 day and still continuing sit-in organised by the peasants at Delhi borders is a recent example. The government, instead of heeding to the demands raised by the workers and peasants is increasingly resorting to authoritarian measures and is trying to curb all sorts of dissent and protests. The CPI(M) is actively resisting the authoritarian measures of the government and is also trying to further mobilise various sections of the society in support of the struggling peasantry. In spite of the various limitations imposed on the functioning of provincial governments, the CPI(M) led provincial government in Kerala attracted worldwide attention and is being lauded for the way it reacted and dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant migrant crisis.

Comrades,
Laos and India share many common cultural traditions. Our two parties also share strong bonds of solidarity and fraternal relations. On this occasion of the 11th Congress, we take this opportunity to reiterate our solidarity and once again wish the Congress a great success.

We are confident that Congress will pave way for the further strengthening of fraternal relations between our two parties.

Revolutionary greetings
Central Committee
Communist Party of India (Marxist)