Lao party chief meets senior CPC official on strengthening ties

Written by Meenaa on Friday, November 14th, 2008

VIENTIANE, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) — The traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between China and Laos will unceasingly move forward, said the Lao party chief here on Thursday.

Choummaly Saygnasone, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, made the remarks when meeting with a high-ranking delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) headed by Zhang Gaoli, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Zhang, who is also party chief of China’s Tianjin municipality,is on a three-day visit in Laos from Thursday to Saturday.

Choummaly said he is pleased to see China’s great achievement made under the leadership of CPC with Hu Jintao as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

He said he welcomes the investment of Chinese companies in Laos and appreciates Tianjin’s active participation in the economic and trade cooperation between Laos and China.

On his part, Zhang said that China is willing to work together with Laos to explore new areas of cooperation between the two parties and two countries. He assured the top Lao leader that China and Laos will maintain “good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners.”

Zhang also briefed Choummaly on the social and economic development of Tianjin, saying he will continue the efforts to expand the cooperation between Tianjin and Laos for mutual benefit.

Laos is the first leg of Zhang’s tour of four southeastern Asian nations, which also includes Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.