Vientiane: The Organization Board of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, in collaboration with experts from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, convened a seminar in Vientiane on September 8, 2026, to discuss working methods, leadership styles, and coordination between Party and administrative authorities at various levels.
According to Lao News Agency, the seminar, themed ‘Working Methods, Style, and Coordination Relations between Party Committee Secretaries and Chairpersons of Administration Committees at the Capital, Provincial, District, and Municipal Levels,’ was presided over by General Vilay Lakhamphong. He is a Political Bureau Member of the LPRP Central Committee and a Permanent Member of the Secretariat of the LPRP Central Committee.
The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Sisay Leudetmounsone, a Political Bureau Member of the LPRP Central Committee and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Organization Board, along with other Political Bureau members, members of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, provincial and capital Party secretaries, and a delegation of Vietnamese experts.
During the seminar, Nguyen Ba Chien, Director of the Academy of Public Administration and Civil Service from Vietnam, shared insights on Vietnam’s practice of having officials hold dual positions, such as Party secretaries also serving as People’s Council chairpersons. This presentation explored the model’s origins, benefits, and challenges, providing a learning opportunity for the Lao side to consider adapting it to their context.
General Vilay Lakhamphong emphasized the seminar’s role in reinforcing the strong traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries’ Parties, States, and peoples. He noted that this exchange is part of fulfilling the memorandum of understanding between the two Political Bureaus and the cooperation agreement for 2026-2030.
In the latter part of the seminar, Sisay Leudetmounsone presented draft reports on regulatory frameworks concerning the working methods and relations between Party Committee secretaries and administration committee chairpersons at various administrative levels. These regulations aim to enhance coordination and establish clear mandates and responsibilities for officials.
Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and President of the Lao PDR, concluded the seminar by urging participants to study and adapt the Vietnamese governance model to Laos’ circumstances. He underscored the importance of people-centred development and the principle of democratic centralism in governance.
Furthermore, he addressed the re-establishment of the Ta Saeng level, underscoring its potential to bolster Party leadership and grassroots management. He encouraged officials to define roles and responsibilities clearly to strengthen local socio-economic development and reduce poverty in Laos.