General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Beijing, noting that his first overseas trip after re-election was to China. Xi said the visit, accompanied by a large delegation, reflects the high importance Laos attaches to bilateral relations. This year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the China-Laos Friendship Year.