Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affair Saleumxay Kommasith visited China between Apr 16-18 to in response to the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
Mr Saleumxay’s visit aimed to further strengthen and deepen the traditional friendship, and comprehensive, strong and long-lasting strategic partnership based on the four-good principle and Laos-China community of a shared future which has increasingly been promoted.
The visit also aims to realize the results of the meeting between the two Party General Secretaries and Presidents of Laos and China in late 2022.
At a bilateral meeting in Beijing on Apr 17, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith expressed his satisfaction with meeting with his Chinese counterpart and appreciated the latter on his appointment to the post in early March.
Both ministers highly valued the relations and cooperation between the two Parties, governments and peoples of Laos and China which is increasingly strengthened, especially the implementation of the agreements made by the top leaders of the two countries, noting that the implementation is increasingly successful and of high effectiveness.
The two countries have maintain regular exchange of high-level visits at central and local levels, especially between the ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, contributing to materializing the agreements and cooperation projects of the two countries, as well as the mutual assistance on regional and international arenas.
The ministers agreed to further promote regular exchange of high-level visits of the Party and government of the two countries so as to enhance the friendship and mutual exchange of good lessons and promote people to people and business to business exchange, and encourage tourists of the two countries to visit each other.
Both sides also agreed to promote bilateral trade through making the best use of cargo and passenger transport on the Laos-China Railway.
They agreed to urge relevant authorities of the two countries to discuss the facilitation of the flow of people at border gates, upgrading of border gate, and the promotion of the establishment of single-window immigration mechanisms at the Boten-Bohan international railway checkpoint, and increase cargo transport routes in border areas to accommodate the increasing volume of cross-border goods.
Both sides agreed to continue to work together to develop Laos-China economic corridors, especially those along the Laos-China railway, by asking the relevant authorities to work together to devise a plan that can better materialize the cooperation frameworks and ensure better access to funding and Chinese markets.
The Chinese side approved Laos’ proposed opening of a Lao general consulate in Chongqing City, which will be another connecting point for Laos-China cargo transport thus increasing cargo transport and strengthening the relations and cooperation between Chongqing of China and the Lao PDR.
Both sides also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the areas of electric energy, mining, agriculture, national defense, public security, prevention and suppression of transnational crimes, human trafficking, and human development, among others.
Both sides also exchanged points of view on their cooperation under Belt and Road Initiative, Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, ASEAN, and other multilateral frameworks.
The Chinese side expressed their support for Laos’ chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024.
Mr Saleumxay expressed on behalf of the Party, government and people of Laos gratitude to the Party, Government and people of China for their support and assistance to Laos in the past and current times, especially for anti-COVID-19 efforts.
Mr Qin Gang affirmed his commitment to urge relevant sectors of the two countries to better work together to implement in an effective manner agreements reached by senior leaders of the two countries thus bringing optimal benefits to the two peoples and prosperity to Laos and China.
Source: Lao News Agency