China, Laos witness new landmark of friendship

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) from October 9-12, where he attended the 27th ASEAN [Association of South East Asian Nations] Plus Three [China, Japan and the Republic of Korea] Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, and then paid an official visit to Laos, October 11-12, at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. The LPDR is the rotating chair of ASEAN for 2024.

Following his visit to Laos, Li paid an official visit to Vietnam, October 12-14, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. These were Premier Li’s first visits to the two countries since he took office.

Meeting on October 11 with General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, Li said that China and Laos are socialist comrades and brothers, noting that over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relations between the two parties and two countries have withstood the test of changes in the international landscape and shown new vitality.

He added that China firmly supports Laos in pursuing a socialist path in line with its national conditions and stands ready to continue firmly supporting each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns.

Li called on both sides to speed up the implementation of the new action plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future and to continue promoting the strategic alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the planned transformation of Laos from a land-locked to a land-linked country.

Hailing China’s historic development achievements and its rising international influence under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, Thongloun said the Lao party, government and people have always regarded China as an inseparable good neighbour, good friend, good comrade and good partner.

Laos is ready to further strengthen high-level exchanges with China, reinforce the alignment of Laos’ national development strategy with the BRI, advance cooperation in key areas such as the Laos-China Railway, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and push the construction of the Laos-China community with a shared future to a higher level to better benefit the two peoples.

In his meeting with President of the National Assembly of Laos Saysomphone Phomvihane the same day, Li said China and Laos, as friendly socialist neighbours, support each other in the struggle for national independence and liberation, and learn from each other in their respective causes of reform, opening up and innovation. “Comrades and brothers” is a vivid portrayal of the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries, he added.

For his part, Saysomphone Phomvihane expressed gratitude for China’s long-term support for Laos’ economic and social development, adding that Laos is willing to strengthen exchanges with China’s legislative bodies, deepen the exchange of experience on state governance, promote the in-depth development of Laos-China friendly and practical cooperation, so as to push for more achievements in the building of a Laos-China community with a shared future.

Meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on October 12, Li said that China and Laos are good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners that share a river and a common future.

Li pointed out that China is ready to work with Laos to speed up the development along the China-Laos Railway and juxtaposed border control, and strengthen cooperation in new energy, advanced manufacturing, digital economy and artificial intelligence, among other fields.

China is also willing to import more quality agricultural products from Laos, he said, calling on the two sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in medical care, education, media, culture and tourism and at sub-national levels to deepen mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples and consolidate China-Laos friendship from generation to generation.

Congratulating Laos on the successful hosting of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation as the rotating chair of ASEAN, Li said that China stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Laos in the United Nations, ASEAN, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and other multilateral mechanisms, actively implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilisation Initiative, and jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.

For his part, Sonexay warmly congratulated China on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, highly praised China’s remarkable development achievements, and sincerely thanked China for its long-term strong support for Laos’ economic and social development.

Laos is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, strengthen high-level and all-level exchanges in various fields, give full play to the role of the Laos-China Railway in driving economic and trade cooperation, expand collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, digital economy and other areas, as well as deepen cultural, people-to-people and tourist exchanges and cooperation.

After their meeting, Li and Sonexay together attended a ceremony which displayed cooperation documents on interconnectivity, economy and trade, inspection and quarantine, green development and other fields. During Li’s visit, the two countries also released a joint statement.

In the statement, China and Laos agreed to continue to strengthen practical cooperation under the framework of strategic alignment between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Laos’ strategy to “convert the landlocked country into a land-linked hub” and to implement the outline of the cooperation plan for jointly building the Belt and Road between the two countries.

Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone also attended the inauguration ceremony of the China-aided Mahosot General Hospital building, pledging to reap more fruits in the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future.

Mahosot General Hospital has become the largest in scale, most comprehensive in functions, and best equipped modern comprehensive hospital and medical teaching base in Laos, Li said. It has played an important role in improving local medical conditions and enhancing the technical skills of medical staff, which has truly benefited the people of Laos and it has also witnessed the enduring and increasingly strong friendship between China and Laos. Faced with the current complex and turbulent international situation, China is willing to always stand closely with Laos, work together and move forward side by side, to promote China-Laos cooperation to new heights and greater achievements.

For his part, Sonexay said that the hospital is a significant livelihood project, with its foundation stone jointly laid by the top leaders of the two parties and countries. It has played an important role in improving medical conditions and safeguarding the health of the Lao people, becoming a landmark project of Lao-Chinese traditional friendship and cooperation.

The full texts of Premier Li’s speeches to the ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the East Asia Summit can be read here and here.

He also held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.

On October 10, he met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. Li said that China is ready to work with Cambodia to continuously enrich their “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework, and deepen and consolidate the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

Noting that China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends who reach out to each other and share the same future, he added that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian leaders, the China-Cambodia community with a shared future has entered a new era of high quality, high level and high standard.

He urged the two sides to accelerate the formulation of the cooperation plan for the “Industrial Development Corridor” and the preliminary work of the China-Cambodia railway, actively promote the construction of the “Fish and Rice Corridor,” strengthen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure and energy, and push for more visible results.

For his part, Hun Manet said that the Cambodia-China friendship was forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries. In recent years, under the guidance of President Xi and Cambodian leaders, bilateral relations have entered a new era for the building of the Cambodia-China community with a shared future. He also thanked China for its long-term valuable support for Cambodia’s economic and social development.

The same day, Li Qiang met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and new Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

The following day he met with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and European Council President Charles Michel.

China ready to join Laos in building high-level community with shared future: Chinese premier

VIENTIANE, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday said that China is ready to work with Laos to build a community with a shared future with high standards, high quality, and high level and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Li made the remarks in Vientiane when meeting with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president.

Conveying the cordial greetings from Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, to Thongloun, Li congratulated Laos on successfully hosting the series of leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation.

China and Laos are socialist comrades and brothers, Li said, noting that over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relations between the two parties and two countries have withstood the test of changes in the international landscape and shown new vitality.

General Secretary Xi and General Secretary Thongloun have maintained close strategic communication with each other to lead the construction of the China-Laos community with a shared future in the new era, said the premier.

China has always placed the development of relations with Laos in a special and important position in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is ready to work with Laos to follow the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, deepen political mutual trust and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, Li said.

He noted that China firmly supports Laos in pursuing a socialist path in line with its national conditions and stands ready to continue firmly supporting each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.

China and Laos should enhance practical cooperation in trade, investment, production capacity, electricity, minerals and other fields, Li said, calling on both sides to further tap potentials, give full play to the driving-effect of the China-Laos Railway, and push for more visible results in all-round cooperation.

Li also said China is ready to expand people-to-people exchanges and cooperation with Laos in culture, tourism and education to enhance mutual understanding and friendship and lay a more solid public foundation for deepening bilateral cooperation.

Thongloun asked Li to convey his sincere greetings to Xi. He congratulated the success of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, as well as the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Hailing China’s historic development achievements and its rising international influence under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, Thongloun said the Lao party, government and people have always regarded China as an inseparable good neighbor, good friend, good comrade and good partner.

Thongloun said the Lao side resolutely adheres to the one-China principle, firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests on issues concerning Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and firmly supports the three global initiatives.

China willing to deepen all-round cooperation in all fields with Laos — Chinese premier

VIENTIANE, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Friday that China is willing to keep closer high-level exchanges with Laos, strengthen strategic communication, stay firmly on the right direction of bilateral relations, deepen all-round cooperation in all fields, and add new impetus to the steady and lasting development of the China-Laos community of shared future.

In his meeting with President of the National Assembly of Laos Saysomphone Phomvihane, Li said China and Laos, as friendly socialist neighbors, support each other in the struggle for national independence and liberation, and learn from each other in their respective causes of reform, opening up and innovation. “Comrades and brothers” is a vivid portrayal of the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries, Li added.

Under the strategic guidance of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, China-Laos relations have entered a new era of building a community with a shared future, Li noted.

China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Laos’ legislative bodies, Li said, adding he hopes that the two sides will implement the cooperation agreement between the legislative bodies of the two countries, make good use of the cooperation mechanism and platform, maintain the sound momentum of exchanges between the high-level legislative bodies, special committees and bilateral friendship groups, to promote the exchange of experience in governance and legislative supervision, better serve the overall interests of China-Laos relations, and provide more impetus for the common development and prosperity of the two sides.

For his part, Saysomphone Phomvihane said Laos and China enjoy profound traditional friendship and sound development momentum of comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The Belt and Road Initiative and the three major global initiatives proposed by General Secretary Xi have been widely praised by the international community, and Laos highly appreciates and firmly supports them.

He expressed gratitude to China’s long-term support for Laos’ economic and social development, adding that Laos is willing to strengthen exchanges with China’s legislative bodies, deepen the exchange of experience on state governance, promote the in-depth development of Laos-China friendly and practical cooperation, to push for more achievements in the building of Laos-China community with a shared future.

China ready to strengthen synergy of development strategies with Laos — Premier Li

VIENTIANE, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — China is ready to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with Laos, promote the expansion and improvement of economic and trade cooperation, explore more converging interests and new cooperation opportunities for mutual success and common development, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Saturday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the Prime Minister’s Office during his official visit to Laos.

China and Laos are good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners that share a river and a common future, Li noted.

Under the strategic guidance of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future has continued to deepen and advance with solid progress, Li said.

China has always regarded the development of relations with Laos as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is willing to take the 15th anniversary of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as an opportunity to further implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests, strengthen solidarity and coordination, and make the China-Laos community with a shared future stronger, more dynamic and more effective, so as to better benefit the two peoples, he said.

China is willing to import more quality agricultural products from Laos, he said, calling on the two sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in medical care, education, media, culture and tourism and at sub-national levels to deepen mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples and consolidate China-Laos friendship from generation to generation.

Congratulating Laos on the successful hosting of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation as the rotating chair of ASEAN, Li said that China stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Laos in the United Nations, ASEAN, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and other multilateral mechanisms, actively implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

For his part, Sonexay warmly congratulated China on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, highly praised China’s remarkable development achievements, and sincerely thanked China for its long-term strong support for Laos’ economic and social development.

Noting that the top leaders of the two parties and countries signed a new action plan on building the Laos-China community with a shared future in October last year, he said this year marks the opening year for the implementation of the action plan.

Laos is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, strengthen high-level and all-level exchanges in various fields, give full play to the role of the Laos-China Railway in driving economic and trade cooperation, expand collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, digital economy and others, as well as deepen cultural, people-to-people and tourist exchanges and cooperation, Sonexay said.

Laos is also ready to provide mutual support and cooperation with China in international and regional affairs, jointly safeguard strategic interests, and continuously improve and upgrade the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future, he added.

Prior to the meeting, Sonexay held a welcome ceremony for Li at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During Li’s visit, the two sides released a joint statement between the two countries.

China, Laos to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality: joint statement

VIENTIANE, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — China and Laos agreed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality in a joint statement issued here on Saturday during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic from Oct. 11 to 12 at the invitation of its Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

The two sides agreed to promote the operation, maintenance and development along the China-Laos Railway with high quality, actively push for the “juxtaposed border control” of the China-Laos Railway to achieve substantial progress as soon as possible, and strive for the standard gauge connection of China-Laos Railway and Thailand railway at an early date to promote the implementation of the China-Laos-Thailand Connectivity Development Corridor Outlook, said the statement.

China appreciates Laos’ interest in and intention to cooperate on Chinese commercial aircraft and welcomes Laos’ aviation enterprises to introduce these aircraft, it said.

The two countries will further strengthen trade exchange and increase the scale and level of trade. To this end, China and Laos will work together to implement the zero-tariff arrangement for 100 percent of Lao products exported to China, and push for more high-quality Lao agricultural and food exports to China, it added.

China, Laos witness new landmark of friendship, ready to reap more fruits

VIENTIANE, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on Saturday attended here the inauguration ceremony of the China-aided Mahosot General Hospital building, pledging to reap more fruits in the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future.

Li extended warm congratulations on the successful completion of the Mahosot General Hospital building, noting that builders from both countries have worked together to overcome difficulties and complete various tasks with quality and quantity assured throughout the construction.

Mahosot General Hospital has become the largest in scale, most comprehensive in functions, and best equipped modern comprehensive hospital and medical teaching base in Laos, Li said.

It has played an important role in improving local medical conditions and enhancing the technical skills of medical staff, which has truly benefited the people of Laos and also witnessed the enduring and increasingly strong friendship between China and Laos, Li said.

Noting that Mahosot General Hospital is an important achievement of China-Laos high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Li said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, the two countries have closely focused on building a community with a shared future with high standards, high quality, and high level.

The two countries have continued to strengthen the synergy of development strategies, deepen practical cooperation, and work hard to complete a number of important infrastructure projects, injecting strong impetus into the economic construction and improvement of people’s livelihood in both countries, Li said.

Faced with the current complex and turbulent international situation, China is willing to always stand closely with Laos, work together and move forward side by side, to promote China-Laos cooperation to new heights and greater achievements, Li said.

Laos appreciates China’s long-term strong support for Laos’ economic and social development and valuable assistance in improving people’s livelihood, and is willing to work with China to strengthen all-round cooperation and push for more fruitful results in the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future, Sonexay said.

Nearly 200 representatives from the governments of the two countries, construction companies, and medical staff of Mahosot Hospital attended the ceremony.

Chinese premier says to enrich China-Cambodia “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework

VIENTIANE, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Thursday that China is ready to work with Cambodia to continuously enrich their “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework, and deepen and consolidate the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era for more results.

Li made the remarks during his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation held in Vientiane.

Noting that China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends who reach out to each other and share the same future, Li said that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian leaders, the China-Cambodia community with a shared future has entered a new era of high quality, high level and high standard.

China will continue to firmly support Cambodia in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and safeguarding national sovereignty and strategic independence, Li said, adding that China is willing to carry on the friendship from generation to generation, deepen strategic mutual trust and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

Li pointed out that China is ready to work with Cambodia to closely align their development needs, accelerate the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy, jointly implement the new version of the action plan for building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

Together with Cambodia, China is also willing to give full play to the mechanism of the inter-governmental coordination committee of the two countries, and create more high-quality projects of practical cooperation to better achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, he said.

Li urged the two sides to accelerate the formulation of the cooperation plan for the “Industrial Development Corridor” and the preliminary work of the China-Cambodia railway, actively promote the construction of the “Fish and Rice Corridor,” strengthen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure and energy, and push for more visible results.

China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia and is willing to import more quality agricultural products from Cambodia, he said, adding that China is ready to strengthen multilateral coordination with Cambodia to safeguard common strategic interests.

For his part, Hun Manet said that the Cambodia-China friendship was forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries.

In recent years, under the guidance of President Xi and Cambodian leaders, bilateral relations have entered a new era for the building of the Cambodia-China community with a shared future, he said. He also thanked China for its long-term valuable support for Cambodia’s economic and social development.

The Cambodian side firmly adopts a friendly policy towards China, firmly adheres to the one-China principle and firmly believes that issues related to Taiwan, Xizang, Xinjiang and Hong Kong are all China’s internal affairs, Hun Manet said.

Cambodia is ready to implement the Cambodia-China “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework, push forward cooperation on the “Industrial Development Corridor” and the “Fish and Rice Corridor,” continue to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy, investment, infrastructure, people-to-people exchanges and tourism, strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation, jointly crack down on transnational criminal activities such as online gambling and telecommunications fraud, and jointly push forward the building of the Cambodia-China community with a shared future, he said.