Aluminum-lithium　(Al-Li)　alloys　are　considered　as　the　most　prospective　light-weight　structural　materials　for　applications　in　the　aerospace　industry.　Laser　beam　welding　is　a　distinct　candidate　process　to　join　aluminum　structures　with　high　quality　and　efficiency.　Al-Li　alloys　tend　to　be　more　susceptible　to　hydrogen　porosity　than　conventional　Al　alloys　and　keyhole　porosity　in　welds　is　formed　when　the　laser　welding　is　unstable.　Hot　cracking　is　commonly　encountered,　which　is　associated　with　alloying　elements　and　solidification　process.　Mechanical　property　degradation　of　laser　welded　joints　is　affected　by　weld　microstructure,　joint　appearance　and　weld　defects　in　Al-Li　alloys.　This　paper　covers　the　state-of-art　of　laser　beam　welding　of　Al-Li　alloys,　highlighting　the　generation　and　prevention　of　weld　porosity　and　hot　cracking,　the　joint　microstructures　and　mechanical　properties.　Finally,　recent　progress　in　T-joint　welding　of　newly　developed　Al-Li　alloys　2060-T8　and　2099-T83　with　two　high　brightness　lasers　for　aircraft　fuselage　applications　is　demonstrated.