Li says China commits to enhance cooperation with Laos, Thailand, Vietnam

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that China is looking to have closer cooperation with Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Li made the remarks when meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha and Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on the sidelines of the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders' meeting held in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

The meeting drew leaders from six riparian countries: Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Maintain cooperation with Laos

Relations between China and Laos are progressing smoothly based on the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners, Li told Thongloun.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (L) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan. 10, 2018. /Xinhua photo

Li said Chinese President Xi Jinping's successful visit to Laos in November last year injected new impetus to the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The two countries should focus on the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Laos economic corridor, accelerate aligning their development strategies, ensure smooth implementation of the construction of the China-Laos railway and enhance interconnectivity, Li said.

The Chinese premier added the two countries should maintain sound coordination in regional mechanisms such as the LMC and China-ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) cooperation to better benefit the two countries and the people in the region.

For his part, Thongloun said Laos appreciates China's long-term support for its economic and social development.

Cooperation between the two countries is productive and the construction of China-Laos railway is progressing smoothly, he said.

Laos is willing to implement the consensus of bilateral cooperation and further pushing forward pragmatic cooperation in various fields, he said.

Thongloun added that Laos is willing to work with China to actively develop the Lancang-Mekong cooperation.

New step forward in China-Thailand cooperation

Hailing the sound momentum of China-Thailand relations, Li told Prayut that the inauguration of the construction of China-Thailand high-speed railway last month marks a new step forward in bilateral cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha in Phnom Penh (L), Cambodia, Jan. 10, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

The 253-km first phase of the railway links Bangkok with northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima. China is responsible for design of the railway, supervision of construction and manufacturing of trains and signal systems among others.

Li called for joint efforts from both sides to facilitate the railway project and push forward cooperation in other areas.

China hopes to synergize its Belt and Road Initiative with Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor construction, upgrade bilateral trade facilitation and enhance cooperation in such areas as trade, tourism and technology, Li said.

Prayut, for his part, said there is huge potential in Thailand-China cooperation, noting that the railway project is of historical significance.

Thailand pays close attention to China's innovation-driven development strategy and hopes to learn from China's experience, he said.

Prayut urged to combine the two countries' development strategies and boost cooperation in trade, technology, tourism and education.

Push China-Vietnam cooperation for more outcomes

When meeting with Nguyen, Li said China is willing to work with Vietnam to push bilateral cooperation to achieve more outcomes.

China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is steadily advancing, Li said.

He said Chinese President Xi Jinping's successful visit to Vietnam in November last year opened a new chapter in the bilateral relations.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan. 10, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

China is willing to meet Vietnam halfway, hold the general direction for the steady development of bilateral ties, maintain high-level exchanges in order to push bilateral cooperation in all areas to score more pragmatic outcomes and promote the two countries' development, he added.

The Chinese premier said China will work with Vietnam to enhance cooperation within the LMC framework and jointly safeguard regional peace, stability and development.

For his part, Nguyen said the top leaders of the two countries and two ruling parties had a successful exchange of visit last year and reached important consensus on cooperation.

Vietnam values the friendly cooperation with China and is willing to keep high-level exchanges and enhance cooperation in such areas as economy and trade in order to further develop the bilateral ties.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency