Thongloun Sisoulith

Thongloun Sisoulith
ທອງລຸນ ສີສຸລິດ
Thongloun in 2023
General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 January 2021
Deputy	Bounthong Chitmany (Standing Member)
Preceded by	Bounnhang Vorachith
7th President of Laos
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 March 2021
Prime Minister	Phankham Viphavanh Sonexay Siphandone
Vice President	Pany Yathotu Bounthong Chitmany
Preceded by	Bounnhang Vorachith
17th Prime Minister of Laos
In office 20 April 2016 – 22 March 2021
President	Bounnhang Vorachith
Preceded by	Thongsing Thammavong
Succeeded by	Phankham Viphavanh
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 8 June 2006 – 20 April 2016
Prime Minister	Thongsing Thammavong Bouasone Bouphavanh
President of the State Committee for Planning and Investment
In office 27 March 2001 – 8 June 2006
Prime Minister	Bounnhang Vorachith
Preceded by	Bouathong Vonglokham
Succeeded by	Soulivong Daravong
Personal details
Born	(1945-11-10) 10 November 1945 (age 78) Houaphanh Province, Laos
Political party	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Spouse	Naly Sisoulith
Children	3
Alma mater	Pedagogical College of Neo Lao Hak Sat Herzen University Russian Academy of Sciences (Ph.D)[1]

Thongloun Sisoulith (Lao: ທອງລຸນ ສີສຸລິດ; born 10 November 1945)^[2] is a Lao historian and politician serving as General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party since 15 January 2021 and President of Laos since 22 March 2021.^[3]

Thongloun was born and educated in Houaphan province, before receiving education in Leningrad and Moscow in the Soviet Union. During the Laotian Civil War, he supported the Pathet Lao as a teacher. He then became the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1987 which lasted to 1992, where he then served in numerous other posts in government. In 2001, he became the Deputy Prime Minister of Laos before becoming the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2006. Described as a 'moderate' by the U.S embassy in Vientiane, Thongloun helped improve Laos-United States relations, which was welcomed in 2009 by Senator Jim Webb and in 2010 by Hillary Clinton; while also improving Laos' relationship with China and Vietnam. In 2016, he became the Prime-minister of Laos where he undertook anti-corruption campaigns. He then became the General Secretary of the LPRP and the President in 2021.^[4]