Third Congress adopts first five-year Socio-Economic Development Plan

• published: 19 Jan 2016
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Footage from the Cinema Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism www.vientianetimes.org.la Vientiane Times is publishing a series of articles detailing the development and leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to mark the 10th Party Congress which takes place this month The Third Congress of the Lao People's Party took place in Vientiane from April 27-30, 1982, and was attended by 228 representatives out of the Party's more than 35,000 members. Third Congress adopts first five-year Socio-Economic Development Plan Vientiane Times is publishing a series of articles detailing the development and leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to mark the 10th Party Congress which takes place this month The Third Congress of the Lao People's Party took place in Vientiane from April 27-30, 1982, and was attended by 228 representatives out of the Party's more than 35,000 members. The congress was also attended by 150 invited guests from around the country and 17 foreign delegations. According to the Party's statute, the Third Congress should have been held in 1976, but the Party Central Committee decided to postpone it until 1982. The reason for this was that Laos had only recently been liberated and the new government needed time to take shape. The 1982 congress saw President Kaysone Phomvihane re-elected to a third term as the Party's Secretary General. The four-day congress also adopted the country's first five-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (1981-1985). The third congress identified the general political line and direction of the Lao revolution during the transition period to socialism. This was to “continuously improve and strengthen the proletariat dictatorship; organise and guarantee a state of unity among the Lao multi-ethnic people; and consolidate the people's right to become masters of their country and society.” It would also simultaneously conduct three revolutions: a crucial revolution in science and technology and a revolution in production, which was seen as the key to ensuring increased output in all sectors, all of which was to be led by a cultural and ideological revolution. Each of these would aid the building of socialism. The congress also specified the need to expand the country's potential. From being a totally nature-dependent agro-forestry economy, Laos would become a socialist country by primarily focusing on industrialisation. The goal was to expand the workforce, to continuously build and improve productivity so that people's living conditions would be improved. In terms of foreign relations, the congress reaffirmed the Lao PDR's foreign policy of peace, independence and friendship. The country would continually e nhance its special relations of comprehensive cooperation and solidarity with Vietnam and Cambodia, and attract sympathy and support from revolutionary movements and peace- and justice-loving people around the world. To enhance the existing alliance and cooperation between the three Indochinese countries, the First Indochinese Summit was held in Vientiane in February 1983. The summit formulated the guiding principles for establishing a tripartite relationship that was a voluntary alliance aimed at furthering solidarity and cooperation among the three independent and sovereign states and maintaining the countries' development and defence.