A China-aided COVID-19 nucleic acid test laboratory was handed over to Laos in a ceremony held in Vientiane on Friday.

Southwest China's Yunnan Province, bordering Laos, built the laboratory and has sent a medical team to Vientiane to install the equipment and train local technical staff.

The laboratory with the latest technology and advanced facilities will help to raise the country's nucleic acid testing capacity by over 1,000 people per day.

Xiang Fangqiang, counselor of the Chinese embassy in Laos, spoke highly of the China-Laos epidemic prevention and control cooperation.

Based on the spirits of a community with a shared future, the Chinese side will boost the cooperation in pandemic prevention and control, promote bilateral cooperation in the post-pandemic resumption of work and production, and protect the lives and health of the two peoples, Xiang said.

Lao Deputy Health Minister Khamphone Phouthavong said the Lao people are grateful for China's valuable assistance in building the laboratory and the technical training to effectively enhance Laos' ability to fight against the COVID-19.

Laos will make full use of the laboratory and contribute to the jointly fight against the epidemic, he said.