China's top legislator Zhao Leji said on Monday that China and Laos should deepen practical cooperation, tap the potential of the China-Laos Railway and build a model of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expressing hope for closer coordination and cooperation at multilateral parliamentary fora.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with visiting Lao National Assembly President Saysomphone Phomvihane in Beijing.

Zhao said China is ready to work closely with the Lao side to translate the consensus reached by top leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the two countries into tangible cooperation outcomes and benefits for the two peoples.

China firmly supports Laos in assuming the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year and stands ready to deepen China-ASEAN relations, Zhao added.

"The NPC of China is willing to work with the Lao National Assembly to deepen friendly exchanges at all levels, conduct in-depth exchanges on issues such as state governance, development planning, and the rule of law, strengthen exchanges between local legislatures of the two countries and provide legal guarantees for China-Laos cooperation in various fields," he said.

Saysomphone said the traditional friendship between Laos and China is enduring, with deepening political mutual trust and fruitful practical cooperation between the two countries.

The Belt and Road Initiative has brought tangible benefits to the Lao people and the Laos-China Railway has played a vital role in promoting the development of the Lao economy, he said.

Saysomphone said the Lao National Assembly is willing to strengthen cooperation with the NPC of China and contribute to the construction of the China-Laos community with a shared future.

The two legislators signed an agreement on cooperation between the NPC and the Lao National Assembly after the talks.

(With input from Xinhua)