Laos, China vow to further enhance ties, cooperation

General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Vientiane, Laos, Oct. 14, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith met on Wednesday with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on bilateral relations and cooperation.

Bounnhang said the relationship between Laos and China has maintained positive momentum for development despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed thanks, on behalf of the LPRP party, the Lao government and people, to the brotherly Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese government and people for the great support in Laos' fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

The two sides have also been pushing forward cooperation projects earnestly, which highlighted the common ideals and goals between the two countries and two peoples, he said.

Laos is ready to work with China to push for new progress of cooperation in existing areas and expand new fields of cooperation so as to further enrich the Laos-China comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, said Bounnhang.

Laos firmly supports China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, and stands with China to jointly build the Laos-China community of shared future, he added.

During the meeting, Wang said the relationship between the LPRP and the CPC and that between the two countries were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but instead withstood tests and became stronger.

The two sides, with mutual support and solidarity as well as joint efforts to overcome the current difficulties, have effectively brought the COVID-19 epidemic under control, displaying their governance capacity and people-centered governance concept, as well as the spirit of building a community with a shared future, he said.

China is willing to work with Laos to develop their traditional friendship, strengthen mutual trust, consolidate solidarity and mutual help, so as to advance the building of the China-Laos community of shared future, which is a goal set by the two countries' leaderships, and deepen the relations between the two parties and the two countries to benefit the two peoples, Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that in face of post-pandemic challenges, China and Laos should each make efforts to well coordinate epidemic control with economic development, and continue to strengthen joint anti-COVID-19 fight.

China is willing to offer Laos priority access to vaccines once they are successfully developed and put into use, accelerate cooperation on jointly building the Belt and Road with the China-Laos Economic Corridor as the engine, and expand bilateral trade and investment to help Laos develop economy and improve people's livelihood.