Chinese state councilor, Lao FM meet on boosting bilateral relations

SINGAPORE - Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith Wednesday in Singapore, where he was scheduled to attend a series of foreign minister meetings.

Wang said China and Laos have excellent relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Laos in last November and Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit visited China in this May.

During the two visits, said the Chinese state councilor, both sides reached a consensus on deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperation and outlined the guidelines to build a community of shared future with strategic significance.

Wang said China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with Laos and boost the construction of key projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, including the China-Laos economic corridor and the China-Laos railway.

On the upcoming ASEAN-related foreign minister meetings, Wang said China is keen to work with Laos and other ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries to make the meetings focus on cooperation and development.

The Lao foreign minister expressed gratitude to China for promptly delivering condolence, aid workers and emergency assistance after the dam collapse disaster in southern Laos.

The Lao official said Laos is willing to implement the consensus reached during visits of President Xi Jinping and President Bounnhang Vorachit, advance the building of the Laos-China community of shared future and work together to maintain the regional peace and stability.