Laos, China enjoy traditional friendship with sincerity, mutual support: Lao PM

China

Laos, China enjoy traditional friendship with sincerity, mutual support: Lao PM

2025-04-12 14:11 Last Updated At：22:57

As friendly neighbors, Laos and China share a traditional friendship with sincerity and mutual support, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said.

In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Sonexay highlighted the significance of China-Laos ties by referring to China's contribution in the founding of his country.

"Speaking of Laos-China relations, we are very pleased to see that as a major political and economic power, China is not only a neighbor to Laos, but also a partner who shares the same socialist ideals with Laos. On this basis, the two parties, the two governments and the two peoples enjoy a beautiful traditional friendship. For example, during Laos' war for national salvation, the brotherly Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and the Chinese people gave sincere support to the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the Lao government and the Lao people without asking for anything in return, helping Laos achieve victory in its revolutionary cause and found today's Lao People's Democratic Republic," Siphandone noted.

Then he talked about his understanding on building a community with a shared future between the two nations.

"Laos and China are not only neighbors, but also long-term stable friendly partners who adhere to the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners. The concept of a community with a shared future for Laos and China fits in with the Global Development Initiative proposed by China. President Xi Jinping has pointed out a new direction for cooperation between the two countries, especially in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. For now, Laos has been actively conducting policy communication with China, and building a community with a shared future between Laos and China so as to take Laos-China relations to a new level," the prime minister said.

EU, Finnish officials express concerns over US remarks on Greenland

Officials from the European Union (EU) and Finland have voiced concerns after the White House said it has been discussing "a range of options" to acquire Greenland, including the use of the military.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told a press briefing in Cairo on Thursday that the message from the U.S. is "extremely concerning," and "not really helping the stability of the world."

Kallas called on all parties to stick to international law, adding that relevant response measures has been discussed among EU members.

"The international law is very clear, and we have to stick to it. It is clear that it is the only thing that protects smaller countries, and that is why it is in the interest of all of us. And we discussed this today, as well, that we uphold the international law on all levels," she said.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Thursday described recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his administration on Greenland as "worrying," while reiterating Finland's support for Denmark and Greenland's right to self-determination.

"Finland and the other Nordic countries have exceptional expertise in Arctic conditions, and we are happy to make use of that together with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to strengthen Arctic security, but it cannot be done by threatening allies," she said at a press conference at Finnish parliament after an extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.

Johannes Koskinen, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was "unprecedented" for threats of violence to be made within NATO against another member in connection with seizing territory, adding that such threats run counter to the United Nations Charter and that their inconsistency with international law should be underscored at all levels.