Senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhao Leji on Wednesday concluded his official good-will visit to Laos, where he and Laotian officials agreed to deepen bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries as well as ruling parties.
Zhao, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, started visiting Laos on Sunday.
During his meeting with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit, who is also the general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, Zhao said his visit was aimed at implementing the important consensus reached by both general secretary of two countries, so as to enhance strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust and deepen substantial cooperation.
Senior official of the Communist Party of China Zhao Leji and Bounthong Chitmany (R, back), member of Central Committee of LPRP and chairman of the LPRP Inspection Committee jointly attend a meeting on China-Laos railway in Laos, Sept. 23, 2018. /XInhua Photo
China attaches great importance to the construction of the China-Laos railway, which is regarded as a model project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and China is willing to deepen and develop the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership by pushing forward cooperation on major projects, Zhao said.
He also introduced the exercise of strict self-governance of the CPC and said the CPC is willing to further strengthen exchange and cooperation with the LPRP on discipline inspections in a bid to guarantee the development of the respective party and country.
Bounnhang Vorachit, for his part, expressed gratitude to China's long-term assistance to Laos and spoke highly of China's historic achievements.
He said Laos is willing to enhance party exchanges with the CPC in various fields including discipline inspections, continue to make LPRP-CPC relations to lead the Laos-China ties, and build an unbreakable Laos-China community of shared future.
During talks with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Zhao said China is willing to speed up the strategic alignment between BRI with Laos development strategies and promote the construction of China-Laos railway and the China-Laos economic corridor.
A stand of Laos is seen during Shenzhen International Cultural Industry Fair in Shenzhen, China, May 10, 2018. /VCG Photo
Extending thanks to China's prompt assistance in fighting the flood in the southern part of Laos, the Lao prime minister said that China's achievements inspire Laos' confidence in the friendship with China and further cooperation on the BRI with China.
During his four-day visit, Zhao also met with Phankham Viphavan, vice president of Laos and a standing member of the LPRP Secretariat, and Bounthong Chitmany, member of Central Committee of LPRP and chairman of the LPRP Inspection Committee.
Phankham Viphavan said the traditional Laos-China friendship is at its best time in history and the Lao side is ready to work closely with China to get the most out of the Laos-China railway, which is part of the construction of the Belt and Road.
Noting that the friendly exchanges between inspection committees of the two parties have been effective in coordinating anti-corruption drives, Zhao said he hopes both sides will continue to deepen exchanges on discipline inspection, enhance cooperation on fugitive repatriation and asset recovery and advance the steady development of relations between the two parties and countries.
Bounthong Chitmany spoke highly of the outstanding results of the CPC's enforcement of strict self-governance in all respect and the friendly cooperation between the two parties on discipline inspections, in which the Lao side is willing to work with China for further exchange and cooperation.
Military honor guards stand around the coffin of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang before his funeral at the National Funeral House in Hanoi, Sept. 26, 2018. /VCG Photo
Laos is the second leg of Zhao's three-state tour. He finished visiting Belarus on Sept. 22 and started his visit in Vietnam on Wednesday.
Commissioned by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Zhao mourned the passing of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi, conveying condolence to the late president's family on behalf of Xi, the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people.
Tran Dai Quang passed away on Friday after a serious illness. He was 61 years old.
(Cover: Senior official of the Communist Party of China Zhao Leji (L) meets with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit in Vientiane, Laos, Sept. 24, 2018. /Xinhua Photo)