Somsavat Lengsavad

Somsavat Lengsavad (Lao: ສົມສະຫວາດ ເລັ່ງສະຫວັດ; born 15 June 1945) is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Laos. An ethnic Chinese, Chinese name: 凌绪光 (Lin Xuguang), who hails from Luang Prabang with ancestry from Hainan,^[1] he was a protégé of Kaysone Phomvihane.

Somsavat Lengsavad
凌绪光
Deputy Prime Minister of Laos
In office 27 March 2001 – 20 April 2016
Prime Minister	Thongsing Thammavong Bouasone Bouphavanh Bounnhang Vorachith
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 25 February 1993 – 8 June 2006
Prime Minister	Bounnhang Vorachith Sisavath Keobounphanh Khamtai Siphandon
Preceded by	Phoun Sipaseut
Succeeded by	Thongloun Sisoulith
Personal details
Born	(1945-06-15)15 June 1945 Luang Prabang, Laos
Nationality	Laos
Political party	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Occupation	Politician

In 1961 he joined the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and fought in the Laotian Civil War.^[2]

He became foreign minister in 1993 and served until 8 June 2006, when he was replaced by Thongloun Sisoulith.

Besides his native Lao, he is fluent in Standard Chinese.^[3]

References

1. (in Chinese) 排除“祖籍”障碍　华裔首次当选老挝政治局委员
2. "Somsavat Lengsavad". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
3. "Land-locked Laos on track for controversial China rail link". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2020-11-05.