Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane this week in Beijing, with both sides pledging to elevate their strategic partnership.
During their meeting on Thursday, Minister Wang Yi described China and Laos as "comrades and brothers," underscoring the long-standing fraternal ties between the two neighbors. He emphasized China's readiness to deepen cooperation across several key sectors.
The discussions focused on practical collaboration, with the China-Laos Railway emerging as a cornerstone project. Minister Wang expressed China's willingness to promote further cooperation in the construction and development of the railway, alongside other vital areas including minerals, economy and trade, and human resources development.
"China is willing to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, and continuously advance the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future of strategic significance to a higher level," Wang stated.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Thongsavanh reaffirmed Laos's firm adherence to the one-China principle, a fundamental stance in cross-strait relations. He highlighted the significance of 2026, marking both the 65th anniversary of Laos-China diplomatic relations and the designated Year of Laos-China Friendship.
"Laos looks forward to taking this opportunity to further promote practical cooperation and implement the action plan for the Laos-China community with a shared future," Thongsavanh said.
The meeting signals a continued commitment from both Beijing and Vientiane to strengthen their bilateral framework, leveraging both bilateral initiatives and multilateral platforms. This deepening engagement is closely watched by regional observers and investors, as it has significant implications for infrastructure development and economic integration in Southeast Asia.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
