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China and Laos are committed to deepening strategic cooperation.
The consensus came during a meeting between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on Sunday.
At the invitation of Wang, the Laotian foreign minister is paying an official visit to China from August 25 to 28.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Laotian counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith reached important consensuses on deepening comprehensive strategic cooperation during their recent mutual visits, Wang noted.
The joint efforts by the two sides have broken new ground for the two countries' strategic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Wang said.
China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in Beijing, China, August 26, 2018. /VCG Photo
China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in Beijing, China, August 26, 2018. /VCG Photo
China-Laos relations have set the goal of building a community of shared future with strategic significance.
Bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of development and presented a series of new features, said Wang.
The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, a new type of sub-regional cooperation, has also made positive progress, creating a new highlight in the cooperation of the two sides, he added.
He noted that the new pattern of cooperative development led by the China-Laos economic corridor and other major projects have given a new meaning to the comprehensive strategic cooperation.
Wang emphasized that China will speed up the planning of the economic corridor for Laos, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two sides.
"Moreover, we will strengthen the construction of the China-Laos railway, strive for more cooperation projects, as well as keep the strong momentum of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, to benefit the people in the region," highlighted Wang.
The Laotian official expressed his appreciation that the Chinese government dispatched rescue teams and provided emergency relief supplies immediately after the dam collapse accident in the southern region of Laos, making the country's people feel again the valuable friendship of Chinese comrades in difficult times, which demonstrated the high-level comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.
He said that he recognizes and appreciates the achievements of the bilateral strategic cooperation between the two countries, and the regular meetings between the two state leaders demonstrate their focus on the friendship between the two countries.
President Xi visited Laos last November, and his Laotian counterpart paid a trip to China in May this year.
He also stressed that the Laotian side is willing, along with the Chinese side, to earnestly implement the significant consensus reached between the two leaders concerning projects such as the China-Laos economic corridor and other infrastructure construction projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Laotian foreign minister also hoped that the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation would be deepened to make new progress in promoting the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The two sides also discussed international and regional issues of common concern.
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (R) shakes hands with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in Beijing, August 26, 2018. /Xinhua Photo
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (R) shakes hands with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in Beijing, August 26, 2018. /Xinhua Photo
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan also met with the visiting official on Sunday.
Wang said China will work with Laos to promote the synergy of the two countries' development plans, deepen pragmatic cooperation, implement cooperative documents in fields such as the Belt and Road Initiative, jointly safeguard regional peace, and continuously promote the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.