China, Laos pledge stronger ties for shared future

China

China, Laos pledge stronger ties for shared future

2025-03-13 20:19 Last Updated At：22:57

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Beijing on Thursday, with both pledging to push forward the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that over the past 64 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two parties and the two nations have stood together through challenges and supported each other. The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has become ever more robust and resilient.

China firmly supports Laos in strengthening the leadership of its party and expresses willingness to enhance strategic mutual trust, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and promote the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future, Wang said.

China's "two sessions" have just concluded successfully, setting a GDP growth target of around 5 percent for 2025. As comrades and brothers, China welcomes Laos to seize the new opportunities of China's development and join hands to march toward modernization, Wang noted.

Wang stressed that China is ready to work with Laos to adhere to the strategic guidance by the senior leadership of the two parties and nations, strengthen exchanges between the two parties and countries at all levels, deepen and expand practical cooperation, strengthen bilateral and multilateral law enforcement cooperation, and jointly safeguard regional peace, stability, development and revitalization.

Thongsavanh congratulated China on the successful convening of the "two sessions" and their significant outcomes, and praised China's leapfrog development amid a complex external environment.

He said that Laos firmly adheres to the one-China policy and stands ready to work with China to make greater progress in building a Laos-China community with a shared future.

Following the talks, both sides signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation under the Global Security Initiative.

Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party prepares for coalition talks after election win

The Bhumjaithai Party has emerged as the largest party in Thailand's House of Representatives, according to preliminary results released by the country's Election Commission on Monday.

As of 94 percent vote counting the Bhumjaithai Party captured 193 seats.

"Bhumjaithai's victory today is a victory for all Thais, whether you voted for Bhumjaithai Party or not," said Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party at a press conference on Sunday.

Thai political analyst said the desire for stability is the key for Anutin's election success.

"What determined the winning of the election this time is the nationalist sentiments, the conflict that we have with Cambodia, the stability that they need at this particular point. And I think for the rural voters who actually voted more for Bhumjaithai, for them, I think they need a safety net which is not about large economic reforms, but they need something which is closer to them," said Virot Ari, a political analyst at Bangkok’s Thammasat University.

Since the Bhumjaithai Party failed to secure more than half of the seats in the lower house, it has to form a coalition government with other political parties.

The People's Party and the Pheu Thai Party ranked second and third, respectively, with 118 and 74 seats. The Kla Tham Party and the Democratic Party each got 58 and 22 seats, taking fourth and fifth positions.

Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of Thailand's People's Party, told the press on Sunday that the party is ready to act as the opposition party.

"No matter the reasons behind how people voted today, the People's Party is ready to continue working in politics, to rebuild political institutions, and to push forward policies for all people," he said.