LAOS, CHINA TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION

Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit,also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, met visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Vientiane,Laos, on December 16, 2018.

The Lao leader dubbed relations between the two countries and the two parties now at their best levels ever. Exchanges at various levels and in different sectors have been frequent and close between the two sides.He also expressed gratitude for the generous assistance that China has provided for Laos,noting that Laos highly values construction of the China-Laos railway and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Laos.

For his part, Wang Yi said China and Laos have been maintaining frequent exchange visits and strategic communication at the highest level, which is providing important guidance for the development of relations between the two countries and the two parties. He noted that the year 2019 will mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. China will

make joint efforts with Laos to implement the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries and comprehensively carry forward bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Wang said China would like to further strengthen high-level exchanges with Laos and conduct long-term planning for the development of relations between the two countries and two parties.

In his meeting with Wang, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith opined that Laos and China have enjoyed unique and sound bilateral relations with the consolidated basis of political mutual trust. Laos is ready to work with China to plan and implement an agenda of important bilateral exchanges for the next year and deepen pragmatic cooperation in all sectors, the prime minister said.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) meets with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit in Vientiane,Laos, on December 16, 2018.

Wang said that the leaders of the two countries have called for construction of a community of shared future with strategic significance between the two countries,demonstrating the unique nature of the China-Laos relations at the bilateral level and the strategic nature of the China-Laos relations at the international level. China is willing to join hands with Laos to implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, carry out closer high-level exchanges and advance all-around cooperation.

He said that China hopes the two countries will reach an agreement on the cooperation plan to build the China-Laos economic corridor as soon as possible to boost Laos’ capacity for self-driven development, focus on building the China-Laos railway and promote construction of economic belt along the railway to yield more substantial fruits from pragmatic cooperation.