Xi Jinping Holds Talks with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President Bounnhang Vorachith of Laos

On April 30, 2019, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President Bounnhang Vorachith of Laos. They agreed to forge ahead with the efforts in building a community with a shared future between China and Laos and work together to usher in a new era for bilateral relations.

Xi Jinping welcomed Bounnhang Vorachith's state visit to China and attendance at the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Xi Jinping said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Laos. Under the strong leadership of the central committees of the two Parties, China-Laos relations have achieved tremendous development and now stand at the best stage in history. Standing on a new starting point, the Chinese side is willing to work with the Lao side to take the opportunity of signing the action plan for building a community with a shared future between China and Laos to provide important guidance for the long-term development of bilateral relations and jointly cultivate bilateral relations in the new era.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Laos should take strengthening the leadership of the CPC and the LPRP as guidance and grasp the correct direction of bilateral relations in the new era. The world is experiencing profound changes unseen in a century and the world socialist cause is facing new opportunities for development. The two Parties, as the cores of the leadership of China and the Laos, must strengthen their strategic self-confidence and sense of urgency, uphold party leadership and ensure the long-term stability of the two countries, so as to make new contributions to the development of the socialist cause. The two sides should maintain close high-level exchanges. I am willing to carry on the good tradition of conducting annual meetings with Comrade General Secretary. The two sides should deepen theoretical exchanges to provide strong theoretical support for the reform and development of the two countries. Both sides should strengthen exchanges between their cadres to ensure that China-Laos friendship will be passed on from generation to generation and the socialist cause will be increasingly prosperous.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Laos should provide assistance for maintaining regional peace and stability and realizing common development with the support of deepening practical cooperation. China-Laos cooperation has become an important force in maintaining regional peace and promoting regional cooperation. The two sides should accelerate the synergy of each other's development strategies, promote the construction of economic corridors, and expand the radiation and demonstration effects of major projects such as the China-Laos railway, so as to contribute more to regional connectivity, common development and prosperity. Both sides should also closely coordinate and cooperate within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, East Asian cooperation and the Lancang-Mekong cooperation to create a good environment for common development.

Bounnhang Vorachith thanked General Secretary Xi Jinping for inviting him to pay a state visit to China and expressed warm congratulations on the complete success of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Bounnhang Vorachith said that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Lao side speaks highly of China's great achievements in Party and state building, especially China's successful experience in poverty alleviation he deeply felt during this visit, which carries important referential significance for Laos. Bounnhang Vorachith noted that it is an unshakable policy of the Lao side to develop its traditional friendship with China. Laos appreciates the Chinese side's long-term valuable support for the Lao side, and stands ready to work with the Chinese side to give further play to the political leading role of the relations between the two Parties in the development of the relations between the two countries, maintain regular high-level meetings between the two Parties, accelerate mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in various fields and promote the in-depth development of Laos-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Bounnhang Vorachith said that the Belt and Road Initiative has become an important platform to strengthen connectivity between countries along the route, playing an important role in regional and global economic development. The Lao side will continue to accelerate cooperation in major projects such as the Laos-China railway, so as to further promote the development and prosperity of the two countries and the region.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Laos should take the action plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future between China and Laos as an important basis to make positive contributions to advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. This is the first time for China and Laos to sign a cooperation document on building a community with a shared future on the bilateral level, which will not only benefit the two Parties, countries and peoples, but also serve as a useful exploration with great significance and far-reaching impact in the cause of human progress.

Bounnhang Vorachith completely agreed with General Secretary Xi Jinping's guiding ideas on the building of a community with a shared future between Laos and China, and said that the signing of the action plan for building a community with a shared future between Laos and China will surely promote the implementation of building a community with a shared future of strategic significance between Laos and China, and also further promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

After the talks, Xi Jinping and Bounnhang Vorachith signed the action plan for building a community with a shared future between the Communist Party of China and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, and attended the signing ceremony of relevant cooperation documents between the two sides.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for Bounnhang Vorachith at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ding Xuexiang; Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi; Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee Chen Xi; Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Hao Mingjin; State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi; Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Zhengwei; Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and Director of the National Development and Reform Commission He Lifeng and others attended the activities.