China, Laos vow to further develop comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership

China and Laos pledged here Saturday to further develop their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

While meeting with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said since China and Laos established the diplomatic relations 55 year ago, the two sides have enjoyed mutual support in politics and all-around cooperation in economy, which has pushed forward the comprehensive development of bilateral ties.

No matter how complicated and volatile the external situation is, China will always pursue good neighborliness toward Laos and eye Laos as its good neighbor, good friend, good comrade and good partner so as to further develop the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership and score new achievement in this regard, Wang said.

To achieve the goal, the Chinese foreign minister said the China-proposed "Belt and Road" Initiative and the Lao strategy of turning the land-locked nation into a land-linked one, as well as China's 13th Five-year Plan and the 8th five-year socio-economic development plan of Laos should be aligned.

"The two sides should boost cooperation in production capacity, accelerate Laos' industrialization process and promote Laos' self-development capacity."

China and Laos should work together to ensure the smooth construction of the China-Laos railroad project so as to complete the project at an earliest date, Wang said.

As Laos this year holds the rotating chair of the Aossociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China is willing to cooperate closely with Laos and join hands with other ASEAN nations to push the China-ASEAN relations to a new high by successfully holding events like the summit marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations and events celebrating the year of China-ASEAN educational exchange, the Chinese minister said.

"China and ASEAN should also deepen pragmatic cooperation in all fields, continue to push forward and implement the 2+7 cooperation framework and the third action plan for the China-ASEAN strategic partnership and implement the achievements of the upgraded version of China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement."

The two sides should also boost cooperation in fields such as economy and trade, finance, communication and connectivity, defense and security, maritime affairs and people to people exchange, among others, he said.

China and ASEAN should implement the outcomes of the first Lancang-Mekong cooperation leaders' meeting so as to carry out the early harvest projects.

For his part, Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith said Laos and China have been close neighbors, and Laos is grateful to China's long-term support and help to its national construction.

With the commencement of a large number of projects including the China-Laos railway, further cultural exchanges and deepening friendship between the two peoples, the two countries have seen constant development in bilateral relations in recent years, he said.

As the two countries are embracing the 55th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations this year, the new government of Laos is wiling to continuously deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Laos, Saleumxay said.

Laos would also like to actively promote the development of China-ASEAN relations while holding the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, and participate in the Lancang-Mekong cooperation to benefit the peoples in the sub-region, said the foreign minister.

Saleumxay said Laos supports the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea while promoting the consultations on the Code of Conduct for the South China sea to safeguard regional peace and stability.

At a joint press conference after the meeting, the Chinese foreign minister said the two countries have reached three consensuses on bilateral relations.

First of all, the two sides agreed to further boost strategic mutual trust and enhance solidarity under the new situation to bring new connotation to the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership.

The two sides also agreed to further strengthen cooperation in international and regional affairs to promote China-ASEAN cooperation to a new stage, said Wang.

The foreign minister said the two sides would work to implement the outcomes of the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation leaders' meeting held in March this year, as the promotion of the cooperation would definitely bring more benefits to the countries and peoples in the sub-region. Endit