Hailing the new era of building of a community with a shared future for China and Laos, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday called for further development of bilateral cooperation. 

The visiting Chinese foreign minister made his remarks when meeting with Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. Wang is also in Vientiane, capital of Laos for the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease and the fifth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting. 

Wang expressed his gratitude to Laos for overcoming difficulties and arranging these two meetings at short notice. 

Noting that fighting novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic is the top priority of the Chinese party and government, Wang said under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, China has given full play to the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics and waged a people's war of epidemic prevention and control. 

The two foreign ministers' meetings fully affirmed the epidemic prevention and control measures China has taken, voiced trust and support for China's victory against the COVID-19 and agreed to work together to overcome the difficulties, Wang said. 

He added these all fully reflected the fine tradition between China and Laos as well as China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of standing together at the critical moment to address the challenges. 

China is willing to work with the Laotian side, implementing the consensus reached between the two leaders, using the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Laos next year as an opportunity to comprehensively promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and writing a new chapter of traditional friendship between China and Laos, Wang noted. 

He also said two sides should maintain high-level exchanges to strengthen exchanges of experience in governing the country and promote the construction China-Laos Railway and China-Laos Economic Corridor cooperation. 

Projects for public well-being should also be well implemented so that the general public can share a sense of gains from the cooperation between the two countries, Wang added. 

Accelerating the implementation of the action plan on the building of a community with a shared future will not only promote the economic and social development of the Laos, but also strengthen the trust and unity between two sides and effectively safeguard two sides' common interests on the international stage. 

Saleumxay said the Laotian side highly appreciates China's great efforts to fight against the epidemic and stands firmly with the Chinese people. 

Noting that Laos recently held a special high-level meeting to deploy and implement the action plan on the building of a community with a shared future for China and Laos, he said his country attaches great importance of the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two sides. 

Laos thanks China for its precious long-term support for the economic and social development of Laos and will firmly support China's legitimate position on issues involving China's core interests, the Lao foreign minister added.  

Thongloun, Wang attend donation ceremony

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Wang attended a donation ceremony in Vientiane on Friday.

The Laos-Chinese Friendship Association collected 400,000 U.S. dollars in cash and 100,000 dollars in medical supplies to assist China's fight against the COVID-19.

Thongloun told Wang he believed China can overcome the epidemic very soon and maintain the fast development of its economy.

"Laos will always stand with China and offer help to China to win this fight. Laos has started to raise funds nationwide. The donation represents our sincerity to the Chinese brothers, though the number might be small," he said.

Wang said Thursday's Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease was very successful and believed it will further enhance cooperation between China and ASEAN and improve the region's capability to jointly respond to public health emergencies.

"Lao citizens insisting on staying in China shows the country's trust in China. Please rest assured that we will take good care of Lao brothers and sisters in China just as we treat our fellow citizens," Wang said.