On April 23, 2016, when jointly meeting the press with Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith of Laos after their talks, Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed that China is willing to make joint efforts with the new government of Laos to continuously promote China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation for new progress.

Wang Yi expressed that during the talks, Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and I have exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues, reaching extensive consensus.

First, both sides agreed to further enhance strategic mutual trust and strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance under the new situation. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-Laos diplomatic relations and an important year linking the past and the future. Both sides will take this as an opportunity to enhance docking of development strategies, promote the construction of the Belt and Road, conduct cooperation in production capacity and strive for negotiations on and signing of relevant cooperation documents at an early date. We will make good preparations before the full-scale construction of the China-Laos railway and make it a landmark project of China-Laos friendship. Both sides will also deepen cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, energy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as law enforcement and security to continuously inject new connotations into the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Laos.

Second, both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in international and regional affairs. This year is the first year after the establishment of the ASEAN community and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. China will continue to support the construction of the ASEAN community, the leading role of the ASEAN in regional cooperation and Laos' rotating presidency of the ASEAN. China and Laos will work closely, make progress together, focus on development agenda, promote practical cooperation, and push China-ASEAN cooperation to another new height.

Third, both sides will jointly implement the results of the First Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting held this March. Currently, China has implemented most of its early-harvest projects. Two villages in Laos have been selected as pilot sites for the demonstration projects of poverty alleviation in the Mekong River region. The Lancang-Mekong water resource cooperation center is expected to be set up this year, and the second-phase renovation project of Lancang-Mekong channel has been launched. All these are closely related to Lao people's livelihood and Laos's development. The ten projects proposed by Laos have been incorporated in the joint list of early-harvest projects, covering such fields as official training, environmental protection, economy and trade as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The continuous in-depth advancing of Lancang-Mekong cooperation will surely bring more welfare to people in Laos and other sub-regional countries.