Thongloun Sisoulith


Thongloun Sisoulith, is a Laotian politician who has been Prime Minister of Laos since 2016. Previously he was Deputy Prime Minister from 2001 to 2016, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2016. He is a politburo member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, ranking fourth.
He was chosen to become Prime Minister of Laos at the 10th Party Congress on 23 January 2016.

Life and career

Sisoulith was born in the Houaphan province of Laos, and he studied at Pedagogical College of Neo Lao Hak Sat in Houaphan from 1962 to 1969. He was further educated in the Soviet Union and Vietnam. In addition to Lao, he speaks Vietnamese, Russian and English.
Throughout his years in government he has an extensive list of appointments. He was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1987 to 1992, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare from 1993 to 1997, and a member of the National Assembly from 1998 to 2000. He became Deputy Prime Minister and President of the State Planning Committee on March 27, 2001, and he was additionally appointed as Foreign Minister on June 8, 2006, replacing Somsavat Lengsavad.