China, Laos pledge to deepen cooperation

China and Laos have pledged to deepen pragmatic cooperation in a variety of areas.

Li Jianguo, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and vice-chairman and secretary-general of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met Saturday with Choummaly Saygnasone, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Lao president.

During the meeting, Li made a four-point proposal on developing relations between the CPC and the LPRP and between the two countries.

Firstly, China and Laos should maintain high-level exchanges; secondly, they should enhance inter-party exchanges and cooperation; thirdly, they should deepen cooperation in agriculture, economy and trade and infrastructure; fourthly, they should strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs, Li said.

Currently, relations between the two parties and the two nations are maintaining momentum of development, Li said.

The new CPC leadership and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, value such relationships and will promote, together with the LPRP and the Lao government, the stable and sound development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, Li said.

For his part, Choummaly said the success of the 18th CPC National Congress has increased China's and the CPC's global influence, and the LPRP Central Committee and himself are encouraged by such success and the congress' historic contributions.

Choummaly said he believes that under the leadership of Xi, the Chinese people will make greater achievements in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Laos and China are enjoying the comprehensive development of bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, with ever deepening mutual communication, understanding and trust, Choummaly said.

The LPRP and the Lao government will work with the CPC and the Chinese government to consolidate and enhance the Laos-China comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, Choummaly said.

Li arrived here Friday for a visit to Laos after visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.