In a significant move to enhance regional cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith on Thursday in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, highlighted the enduring friendship between China and Laos. “China and Laos have always supported each other with sincerity and mutual assistance,” Wang stated.
The meeting underscored the continuous rise in bilateral trade and the remarkable achievements of the China-Laos Railway, whose transportation capacity has reached new heights. Both officials noted the significant increase in people-to-people exchanges and the closer cooperation in international and regional affairs.
Wang affirmed China’s firm support for Laos in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. He expressed China’s willingness to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, maximize the comprehensive benefits of the China-Laos Railway, address bottlenecks jointly, and accelerate development along the railway to serve both countries’ aspirations for development and revitalization.
Saleumxay Kommasith acknowledged the crucial role that the rapid development of Lao-Chinese cooperation has played in Laos’s socioeconomic progress. “Laos is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries,” Saleumxay said. He emphasized the desire to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen cooperation in connectivity and mineral resources, jointly combat transnational crime, and promote the construction of the Laos-China community with a shared future for the benefit of both peoples.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Myanmar issue. Wang Yi reiterated that Myanmar is a member of the ASEAN family, and China supports ASEAN in strengthening communication and engagement with Myanmar. He expressed China’s support for Myanmar in achieving political reconciliation, restoring the process of democratic transition, and maintaining regional peace and stability.
Saleumxay appreciated China’s constructive role in promoting peace talks in northern Myanmar and expressed willingness to strengthen coordination with China to assist Myanmar in achieving stability and development.
Reference(s):
Wang Yi meets Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in Chiang Mai
cgtn.com