Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I’m delighted to wish the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic peace, prosperity, and joy on the occasion of the Lao New Year.

"I was very pleased to visit Vientiane in January, and I look forward to coming again in July as we work closely together with Laos in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN for this entire year. I know President Obama looks forward to becoming the first ever American President to visit Laos when he travels there in September, further strengthening our ties.

"The increasingly close friendship between the United States and the Lao PDR has benefitted both our countries. May the New Year bring us closer still."