Li Keqiang Meets with President Bounnhang Vorachith of Laos

On the afternoon of May 13, 2017, Premier Li Keqiang met at the Great Hall of the People with President Bounnhang Vorachith of Laos, who was in China for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Li Keqiang expressed that China and Laos enjoy profound traditional friendship, as well as sustained and in-depth development of bilateral relations. President Xi Jinping will exchange in-depth views with you on the development of relations between the two parties and two countries. We are willing to align the "Belt and Road" initiative with Laos' strategy of "transiting from a land-locked country into a land-linked one", give full play to the political advantages and geographical advantages of China-Laos relations, deepen cooperation in key fields, so as to guarantee the smooth implementation of the China-Laos railway project, economic cooperation zones in the border areas and other projects. We should continue to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure construction, resources exploration and exploitation, agriculture, electric power and other fields.

Li Keqiang pointed out that China values Laos' important role in regional affairs, and stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with Laos within the mechanisms of China-ASEAN relations and Lancang-Mekong River cooperation, in a bid to better benefit people in the region.

Bounnhang Vorachith stated that Laos and China are a community of shared destiny with mutual trust. Laos is glad to see China's tremendous achievements in its reform and opening-up and economic and social development, appreciates China's important role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, investment and infrastructure construction, and accelerate the construction of Laos-China railway and other major projects. It is believed that under the joint efforts of both sides, the Laos-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership will certainly achieve greater development.

(From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China)