1st Ld-Writethru: China, Laos pledge further cooperation

China and Laos on Wednesday pledged to further enhance bilateral cooperation and parliamentary exchanges.

The pledge was made during separate meetings between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang with visiting Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit at the Great Hall of the People.

Hailing the current development of China-Laos relations, Li said China was ready to enhance political mutual trust, promote the implementation of bilateral cooperation programs, and strengthen exchanges and experience sharing on development.

He also called on the two sides to strengthen communication and coordination on regional and international affairs.

Bounnhang said bilateral technological and trade cooperation with China made important contribution for Laos' social and economic development.

Laos is willing to expand the bilateral cooperation, and implement the cooperation projects such as the Laos-China railway construction, Bounnhang said.

He said Laos will also actively participate in the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism that was started earlier this year.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the dialogue relationship between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Bounnhang said Laos welcomed Li to visit Laos and attend this year's leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation scheduled in Vientiane. Laos will also prepare well for the commemorating summit for the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relationship to advance regional cooperation.

Li said he was looking forward to this year's leaders' meeting and the commemorating summit.

Li spoke highly of the contribution made by Laos for regional cooperation and development, saying China will support Laos' rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN, and work with Laos and other ASEAN members to jointly push forward the China-ASEAN relations and East Asian cooperation to benefit people in the region.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, said in his meeting with Bounnhang that the NPC attached high importance to the cooperation with the Lao National Assembly and was willing to keep the bilateral exchanges of all levels.

Zhang urged the legislative bodies of the two countries to increase exchanges on national governance, legislature and supervision to help promote the development of the China-Laos relations.

Bounnhang said the Lao government and National Assembly will work with the Chinese side to push forward the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, also met with Bounnhang on Wednesday and jointly attended the reception marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Laos.

Speaking highly of the friendship between the two countries in the past 55 years, Liu said it is of great political importance to bilateral ties to maintaining high-level party-to-party exchanges.

The CPC is willing to work with the the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) to implement the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Lao counterpart Bounnhang to further exchange experience on party-building and governance so as to promote the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, Liu said.

Bounnhang said Laos appreciates the assistance China has provided to it in the past 55 years.

Lao would like to make joint efforts with China to lift the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to a new level, said Bounnhang.

Bounnhang is visiting China from Tuesday to Thursday. This is his first visit to China since he became general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee in January and was elected president of Laos in April. Endi