China will maintain cooperation with Laos: premier

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Wednesday that China will maintain cooperation with Laos to bring more benefits to the two countries.

The China-Laos relations are progressing smoothly based on the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners, Li said while meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on the sidelines of the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders' meeting held in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

The meeting drew leaders from six riparian countries -- Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Li said Chinese President Xi Jinping's successful visit to Laos in November last year injected new impetus to China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The two countries should focus on the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Laos economic corridor, accelerate aligning their development strategies, ensure smooth implementation of the construction of China-Laos railway and enhance interconnectivity, Li said.

The Chinese premier added the two countries should maintain sound coordination in regional mechanisms such as the LMC and China-ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) cooperation to better benefit the two countries and the people in the region.

For his part, Thongloun said Laos appreciates China's long-term support for its economic and social development.

Cooperation between the two countries is productive and the construction of China-Laos railway is progressing smoothly, he said.

Laos is willing to implement the consensus of bilateral cooperation and further pushing forward pragmatic cooperation in various fields, he said.

Thongloun added that Laos is willing to work with China to actively develop the Lancang-Mekong cooperation. Enditem