Wen's visit to further enhance Sino-Lao partnership

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit to Laos is expected to push the Sino-Lao comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to a higher level, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Bu Jianguo said.

"I believe that Premier Wen's visit be very fruitful and will push the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to a new high," Bu said in an interview with Xinhua earlier this week.

Premier Wen will attend the ninth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the Lao capital of Vientiane and pay an official visit to Laos from Nov. 4 to 6, during which he is scheduled to meet with Lao leaders on further cementing the China-Laos partnership.

Bu noted that China and Laos are friendly neighbors and the friendship between the two peoples has a long history.

The ties between the two countries have seen remarkable progress since the establishment of diplomatic relations 51 years ago, especially after the two sides established the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in 2009.

The ambassador also expressed sincere congratulations to Laos' accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) recently.

China, as chair of Laos' WTO accession task force, spared no effort to facilitate the process and promote Laos' involvement in international cooperation.

Laos' WTO accession would certainly promote the trade ties between China and Laos, and both sides could explore new models of economic and trade cooperation within the framework of the WTO, she said.

The two-way trade volume between China and Laos increased to 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, up 20.4 percent year-on-year, while the figure for the first nine months of this year reached 1.24 billion dollars, representing a year-on-year increase of 38.6 percent.

The two countries has also enjoyed deepened mutual trust and enhanced security cooperation, as showcased by the case of Myanmar drug lord Naw Kham, who was identified as the principal suspect in the slaughter of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River on Oct. 5, 2011, and was transferred to China soon after his arrest in Laos last May, Bu said.

The Chinese diplomat also said China will continue to provide full support for Laos' hosting of the upcoming ASEM summit, a top priority for Laos this year.

Last month, the China-aided Lao International Convention Center, which will be used as the main venue for the summit, was completed ahead of schedule. China has also provided assistance in several other projects, including the expansion of the Vientiane international airport.

Bu expressed her strong belief that the 9th ASEM will be a great success as "all preparations for the meeting are in place."