Chinese premier calls for sharing opportunities, common development with Laos

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 16, 2023. Sonexay Siphandone is in China attending the 20th China-ASEAN Expo. [Photo by Yao Dawei/Xinhua]

NANNING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday met with Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Noting China-Laos community with a shared future has been continuously advanced, Li said China has always viewed relations with Laos from a strategic perspective.

China is ready to work with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by top leaders of the two parties and countries, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, deepen cooperation in various fields, and share opportunities and jointly promote development, to deliver benefits to the two peoples and contribute to regional peace and stability, said Li.

Li said China is willing to continue to work with Laos to jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality and promote the continuous upgrading of China-Laos cooperation.

He also urged the two sides to give fuller play to the role of China-Laos railway in promoting the development of the two countries. China is willing to strengthen cooperation in various fields and import more quality products from Laos, Li said, adding the two sides should strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges to promote mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples.

China supports Laos in assuming the rotating presidency of ASEAN next year, and stands ready to work with Laos to advance the building of the "Five homelands" and the China-ASEAN community of a shared future, said the premier.

For his part, Sonexay Siphandone said Laos thanked China for its strong support for Laos' economic and social development and spoke highly of the fruitful results of bilateral cooperation. Laos firmly abides by the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests.

He added Laos is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience in party and state governance, promote pragmatic cooperation in such fields as the Belt and Road, economy, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, jointly safeguard strategic interests, and promote the upgrading of China-Laos community with a shared future.