On June 8, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, who pays his working visit to China, in Chongqing.
Wang Yi said that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Laos diplomatic ties and the Year of China-Laos Friendship. Throughout the history of exchanges between the two parties and two countries, China and Laos have shared the same aspirations and helped each other, elevated the traditional friendship and deepened mutually beneficial cooperation, which is a real reflection of building a community with a shared future. In the face of major changes and a global pandemic unseen in a century, China is willing to work with Laos to fully implement the important consensus reached between the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, carry forward traditional friendship, enhance mutual trust and cooperation, further advance the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future, in order to bring more benefits to the two peoples, and inject more positive energy to regional peace and stability.
Wang Yi said, China extends its heartfelt congratulations to the new party and government leaders of Laos on getting off to a good start in domestic and foreign affairs and advancing virus control and economic and social development in an orderly manner after taking office. China firmly supports Laos in implementing the resolutions adopted at the 11th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and pushing forward its renovation and opening-up. China is ready to join hands with Laos to navigate the path of socialist cause, strengthen exchanges of governance experience, and jointly improve governance capacities. China is willing to continue to support Laos in pandemic control, provide various supplies including vaccines, and help Laos improve its public health services to achieve the final victory over the pandemic.
Wang Yi said that both sides need to further enhance the synergy between development strategies, give full play to the flagship project of the China-Laos Economic Corridor, and foster new growth areas amid regular pandemic prevention and control. China is willing to share with Laos the opportunities brought by its opening-up, and import more superior agricultural products from Laos. The first batch of beef cattle of Laos has made historic access to the Chinese market. China stands ready to increase the import from Laos and initiate large-scale cooperation. China and Laos need to make joint efforts on the China-Laos Railway, the symbol of the Belt and Road Cooperation and China-Laos friendship, to ensure its completion on schedule. Meanwhile, the two countries need to draft a plan for development along the railway to fully exert its integrated effects.
Wang Yi said that China appreciates Laos supporting the elevation of China-ASEAN relations and the building of a China-ASEAN partnership on blue economy. China speaks highly of the important and positive role made by Laos in lifting Lancang-Mekong cooperation to a new level when co-chairing the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. China stands ready to implement the outcomes of the leaders' meeting, and jointly promote post-pandemic economic recovery of the region.
Saleumxay Kommasith, on behalf of the LPRP, and the Lao government and people, extended warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the CPC's founding. He said that under the CPC's strong leadership, China has achieved extraordinary development progress, blazed a trail that fits its national conditions, and set an example for developing countries. The LPRP and the Lao government are deeply encouraged and are ready to learn from China's experience to facilitate its poverty eradication and sustainable development. Laos agrees with the idea of cherishing and carrying forward Asian values. The Asian civilization has a long history. We need to develop self-confidence in our civilization and make new Asian contributions for human progress.
Saleumxay Kommasith thanked China for helping his country with pandemic control and economic development. He said that Laos has always been China's close friend and good neighbor. Laos attaches great importance to its relations with China and is ready to advance high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation, deepen all-round exchanges and cooperation, promote the construction of the Laos-China Railway and the Laos-China Economic Corridor, and push forward the building of a Laos-China community with a shared future.