On April 23, 2016, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Vientiane with Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith of Laos.
Wang Yi expressed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 55 years ago, China and Laos have shared mutual political support and comprehensive economic cooperation, promoting the development of bilateral relations in an all-round way. No matter how complicated and changeable the external environment is, China will continue to firmly pursue a friendly policy towards Laos and regard Laos as its good neighbor, good friend, good comrade and good partner, in a bid to promote the continual and new achievements of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
Both sides should maintain high-level exchanges to plan and guide the direction for the development of bilateral relations.
Both sides should align China's "Belt and Road" initiative with Laos' strategy of "turning the land-locked nation into a land-linked one", and also China's 13th Five-Year Plan with Laos's 8th five-year National Socio-economic Development Plan. The two countries should actively advance cooperation in production capacity, facilitate Laos' industrialization, and strengthen Laos' self-development capacity. The two sides should ensure the smooth and full-scale construction and early completion of China-Laos railway.
Both sides should strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, deepen exchanges between the two countries in culture, education, tourism, media and youths, and boost cooperation in law-enforcement security.
Wang Yi expressed that during Laos' rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, China stands ready to keep close cooperation with Laos and join hands with other ASEAN countries to push China-ASEAN cooperation to another new level. China will do well in holding the activities commemorating the 25th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations, ensure the success of the commemorative summit marking the anniversary, and host well the China-ASEAN Educational Exchange Year. China will deepen bilateral practical cooperation in all areas, continue to promote the implementation of the "2+7" cooperation framework and the 3rd Action Plan on China-ASEAN strategic partnership, push forward the application of achievements of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area upgrade, strengthen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade and finance, connectivity, defense and security, sea, social affairs and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China will properly implement outcomes of the First Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting, in an effort to propel the early implementation of early-harvest projects.
Saleumxay Kommasith expressed that Laos and China are close neighbors. In recent years, the bilateral relations have constantly obtained new development with the launch of a batch of major projects such as the Laos-China railway, expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges and constantly deepening friendship between the two peoples. Laos thanks China for its long-term substantial support and assistance in Laos' national construction. This year, which marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Laos-China diplomatic relations, is an important year for bilateral relations. The new government of Laos stands ready to constantly deepen the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation with China. During its ASEAN rotating presidency, Laos is willing to proactively advance the development of ASEAN-China relations to highlight ASEAN-China solidarity and cooperation. Laos will actively participate in the LMC, in a move to benefit the people in the sub-region.
Saleumxay Kommasith expressed that Laos supports all sides in comprehensively and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and pushing forward the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, so as to maintain the regional peace and stability.