China and Laos to strengthen ties in economy, regional issues

VIENTIANE: Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Wednesday with Laos Foreign Minister SaleumxayKommasith and the two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the post-epidemic era, economic ties and coordination in regional affairs.

Wang said China and Laos are friendly neighbours and also comrades and brothers working together to advance the socialist cause, Xinhua news agency reported.

Both countries have succeeded in containing the COVID-19 epidemic, demonstrating the socialist systems' advantages of concentrating resources to accomplish large undertakings and the two parties' advanced philosophy of taking the interests of the people above everything else, Wang said.

Wang said China is willing to sum up lessons and experiences from both countries' joint efforts in fighting the epidemic, plan post-pandemic cooperation and strengthen bilateral strategic communication and coordination, so as to speed up the construction of China-Laos community of shared future and invest strong impetus into each other's development.

He expressed thanks for the selfless support from the Lao ruling party, government and society for China's anti-COVID-19 fight, and pledged to continue providing anti-virus materials to Laos while offering the country priority access to vaccines based on its needs.

Wang called on both sides to strengthen coordination in regional affairs to ensure the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) within the year, smoothly promote region cooperation on blue economy and digital economy in order to continuously advance the level of regional integration. (IANS)

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