Laos has appointed 64-year old Khemmani Pholsena, a former schoolmate of Chinese President Xi Jinping to serve as a top aide to the Southeast Asian nation's new leader. She and Xi Jinping attended the same elementary school in Beijing.  When Xi Jinping travelled to the Laotian capital of Vientiane in 2017 following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Vietnam he met Khemmani and her family. The Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Xi Jinping as saying "I am very delighted to reunite with my old classmates and old friends. The Pholsena family is China's good friend and old friend." Khemmani Pholsena has been appointed the Minister in charge of the Presidential Office. She will advise President Thongloun Sisoulith, who doubles as general secretary of the communist ruling party.

(Comment: Khemmani Pholsena's father was posted as Ambassador to Beijing at the time.)