In the telegram, which was presented after the closing session of the congress by Luo Gan, leader of the visiting CPC delegation, and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Jiang said he sincerely and ardently congratulates Khamtay in the name of the CPC Central Committee and himself.

Jiang said that he is very glad to witness the new achievements and victories gained by Lao people during their renovation, opening-up and state-construction course under the leadership of the Lao party, since the Sixth Congress of the Lao party in 1996.

He noted that during the same period, the two parties and two peoples of China and Laos also have jointly promoted their relations to a new era.

The CPC will continue to strengthen the friendly exchange and cooperation with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, and work persistently for developing closer and more intimate Sino-Lao ties in the new century, said the top Chinese leader.

He said he wishes Khamtay to make greater achievements during his new term as the Lao party leader.

Jiang also expressed his strong wishes of further strengthening and consolidating the traditional friendship between the two parties, two countries and two people, and hoped Laos to achieve national prosperity and people's well-being.

Khamtay was re-elected to his third five-year term as the Lao party leader at the five-yearly party congress which closed here Wednesday afternoon.

(Xinhua 03/14/2001)