President Thongloun Sisoulith. - The Star file pic VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): President Thongloun Sisoulith has called for friendly nations in the region and around the world which are suffering the same fate to strengthen their trust and unity to overcome the challenges they currently face. Thongloun made the call when speaking at the online Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 held in Boao, south China’s Hainan province, on Tuesday (April 20). China’s President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech via video during the opening ceremony of the conference, which was attended by senior officials from China as well as heads of state and government from 29 countries.