China's top political advisor Wang Huning led a Chinese party and government delegation on an official visit to Laos from Dec 1 to 3, and attended celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and his delegation arrived in Vientiane at the invitation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and the Lao government.
During the visit, Wang met separately with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao president, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and Lao National Assembly (NA) President Saysomphone Phomvihane. He also held talks with Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, president of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Development (LFND).
During his meeting with Thongloun, Wang noted that China is willing to work with Laos to implement the strategic consensus reached by leaders of the two parties and countries, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, including the Taiwan question, and accelerate the building of a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level China-Laos community with a shared future.
Wang also briefed Thongloun on the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and expressed China's readiness to deepen exchanges with Laos on governance experience and jointly advance each country's socialist path.
Thongloun congratulated China on the successful convening of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He expressed Laos' sincere appreciation for China's long-term and valuable support, noting that bilateral relations are at their best in history and that cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the Lao people.
He said Laos is committed to working with China to further enhance the building of Laos-China community with a shared future, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and resolutely opposes any erroneous remarks or actions that interfere in China's internal affairs.
During his meeting with Sonexay, Wang said that under the strategic guidance of leaders of both parties and countries, China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation continues to make steady progress, adding that China is ready to deepen strategic coordination with Laos and set an example for building a community with a shared future among neighboring countries.
Sonexay reaffirmed Laos' firm support for China in safeguarding its core interests, and expressed his country's willingness to enhance all-round, mutually beneficial cooperation with China and jointly build a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level Laos-China community with a shared future.
During his meeting with Saysomphone, Wang said that the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year presents an opportunity for both sides to deepen practical cooperation across various sectors and inject fresh momentum into their respective socialist modernization efforts.
Saysomphone noted that the Laos-China community with a shared future has achieved remarkable progress and expressed Laos' readiness to strengthen legislative exchanges with China to further advance bilateral friendship and practical cooperation.
During his talks with Sinlavong, Wang said that the CPPCC is willing to work with the LFND to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' top leaders, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and tell the story of friendship between the two countries well, so as to play an active role in advancing the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future.
Sinlavong said Laos is willing to learn from China's governance experience and that the LFND will strengthen cooperation and exchanges with the CPPCC to further consolidate bilateral relations.
During the visit, Wang attended the Lao National Day rally and military parade marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, inspected the Vientiane Station of the China-Laos Railway, and attended the ceremony celebrating the railway's fourth anniversary of operation.
China's top political advisor pays official visit to Laos
