Exclusive with LPRP General Sec. Thongloun Sisoulith

Editor's Note: How are China and Laos shaping a shared future through connectivity, innovation, and development? What lessons can countries learn from each other's experiences in modernization and poverty alleviation? In this edition of Leaders Talk, CMG's Zou Yun sits down with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of Laos, for an exclusive and wide-ranging conversation during his state visit to China. Together, they explore the evolving China-Laos partnership and discuss how cooperation is expanding across infrastructure, high technology, energy, and economic development. They examine the impact of the China-Laos Railway on Laos' transformation and look into opportunities to further improve regional connectivity and efficiency. The discussion also delves into Laos' development ambitions, including its goal of becoming the "battery of Southeast Asia," and explores how the country draws on China's experience in poverty alleviation and modernization. In addition, Sisoulith shares his perspectives on President Xi Jinping's governance philosophy, global initiatives, and the future of China-Laos relations.