Beijing, December 21st—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Somphone Sichaleune, newly-appointed Lao Ambassador to China.

Liu welcomed Somphone Sichaleune on his assumption of the new post in China. He said, in recent years, under the personal care and strategic guidance of the top leaders of our two Parties and two countries, China-Laos relations have entered the best period in history, becoming a model of good-neighborliness, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between China and a neighboring country. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Lao side to implement the important consensus reached by General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, especially promote the implementation of the new five-year action plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future. He called on both sides to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen experience exchange in state governance and administration, promote the alignment of the development strategies of the two countries, give play to the demonstration and leading effect of the China-Laos railway, and promote practical cooperation such as the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. China supports Laos in serving as the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2024, and strengthens coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs with Laos. The IDCPC is willing to actively offer assistance to the Lao Embassy in China and jointly make new contributions to the development of China-Laos relations.

Somphone Sichaleune agreed with Liu Jianchao on the positive evaluation of Laos-China relations. He said, General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith reached a series of important consensus on the development of Laos-China relations with General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to China in October this year, particularly they jointly signed a new five-year action plan for building Laos-China community with a shared future. The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and the Lao government attach great importance to the implementation of the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties, and require all Lao departments to carry out the work with high quality, at high level and according to high standards. This is also an important task of the Lao Embassy in China. The Lao side thanks the Chinese side for the long-term valuable support and assistance to Laos' economic and social development, and is willing to learn experience of party building and state governance from the Chinese side, enhance exchanges between the two Parties at all levels, push cooperation between the two countries in all fields, and promote relations between the two countries and ASEAN-China relations for greater development.

Somphone Sichaleune also expressed sympathies over the earthquake in Gansu province. And Liu thanked him for that.

Zhao Shitong, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, was present.

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