Beijing, March 13th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Lao Foreign Minister.   

Liu said, the CPC and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) are close comrades who highly trust each other. In recent years, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith have maintained close communication, providing strategic guidance for the development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Lao side to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, promote the implementation of the new five-year action plan on building a China-Laos community with a shared future, and promote practical cooperation in various fields. The Chinese side has always firmly supported the ASEAN countries in seeking strength through unity, supported ASEAN's integration and ASEAN's centrality in regional cooperation. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Laos in multilateral mechanisms such as China-ASEAN cooperation to jointly maintain regional peace, stability and prosperity. The CPC is willing to deepen exchanges and mutual learning of experience in party building and state governance with the LPRP and support Laos in successfully convening the 12th National Congress of the LPRP. 

Thongsavanh said he was very pleased to visit China right after the successful conclusion of China's Two Sessions. The Lao side sincerely congratulates the Chinese side on the leapfrog development achievements in various fields, and believes these achievements will bring more opportunities to the region and the world. The Lao side is willing to work with the Chinese side to implement the new five-year action plan on building a Laos-China community with a shared future in accordance with the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries. The three major global initiatives proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping conform to the trend of the times and meet the needs of the Global South countries. The Lao side will firmly support and participate in them. Laos is the first ASEAN country to sign a memorandum of understanding with China on jointly promoting cooperation in the Global Security Initiative. The Lao side is willing to continue to play an active role in promoting ASEAN-China cooperation. 

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. 

Fang Hong, Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Zhao Shitong, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, and Somphone Sichaleune, Lao Ambassador to China, and others were present.