Laos, China agree to further cooperation

Laos and China vowed on Tuesday to make concerted efforts to further
cooperation and push forward the bilateral all-round friendly and
cooperative relations to "a new level".

In the talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Lao
counterpart Choummaly Sayasone, both leaders spoke highly of the
relations between the two countries and parties. Mr Choummaly proposed
many projects of cooperation to his Chinese counterpart for
consideration.

They include the construction of a railway from the Lao-Thai Friendship
Bridge to Km 21 of Vientiane's industrial area. Mr Choummaly proposed
that the two governments continue to implement various agreements
signed by them in order to achieve a fruitful outcome.

"The traditional friendship between China and Laos has progressed
well and the two sides have done a lot of work in significantly
promoting ties between the two countries and two parties in the new
century," Hu said.

Hu acknowledged that the two sides have maintained high-level exchanges
and made remarkable achievement in cooperation in various fields and at
various levels.

"We have established good coordination in international and regional
issues, and the relations between our two countries and two parties
demonstrate a strong momentum of growth," Hu stressed.

Choummaly extended his congratulations on the 85th anniversary of the
founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), expressing his hope
that the Chinese people, under CPC leadership, will make great
achievements in the construction of a harmonious socialist society.

Laos and China share a traditional friendship and in the 30 years since
the Lao PDR was established, the country has received selfless support
and help from the Chinese people and the CPC, which is deeply
appreciated by the Lao side, Choummaly said.

The Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Lao government will
always regard the Chinese government and the CPC as a reliable friend
and comrade with shared ideals, Choummaly said.

Hu said that the CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance
to ties with Laos and are willing to make joint efforts with Laos to
maintain high-level exchanges, promote bilateral exchange and
cooperation at various levels such as defence and public security,
crack down on drug trafficking, and boost education and tourism.

China will further bilateral economic and trade cooperation with Laos,
especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and infrastructure
construction, Hu said.

"We support the efforts of the border provinces of the two countries
in forging cooperation in various forms. We encourage Chinese
enterprises to invest in Laos and welcome Lao businessmen who want to
expand economic and trade relations with China," Hu told his Lao
counterpart.

The Chinese president also pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation
under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, China-ASEAN,
East Asia Summit and the Development of the Great Mekong Sub-region.

Agreeing with Hu's proposals on the development of bilateral
relations, Choummaly expressed his willingness to foster the tradition
of maintaining high-level exchanges with China and cement friendly
cooperation in human resources, trade, tourism and public security.

Laos will consolidate bilateral coordination and cooperation in
regional and international affairs and achieve more progress in
bilateral relations in the new era, Choummaly added.

The two presidents also briefed each other on the domestic situations
of the two countries. Hu said that China supports the development of
Laos along socialist lines, along with the country's reform and
opening up process.

"We support efforts made by Laos to develop its national economy and
we believe the Lao government and its people, under the leadership of
the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, will make great achievements in
their national construction," Hu said.

Choummaly said that China has made remarkable achievements in its
national construction under CPC leadership, highlighting that the
Chinese economy has maintained rapid growth, living standards
continually raised and China's influence in regional and
international issues has been further strengthened, showcasing the wise
decisions made by the CPC leadership and the advantages of socialism
with Chinese characteristics.

All these factors are of huge encouragement to the Lao people and Laos
will learn from the experience of China, Choummaly stressed.

On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Thoungloun
Sisoulith. The two leaders vowed to strengthen bilateral relations and
cooperation.

They agreed to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders
of the two countries to promote the development of the China-Laos
good-neighbourly and friendly relationship of cooperation.

DKJ

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