Laotian television is reporting that leaders from that country and China are in the midst of ongoing efforts to explore ways to establish even closer relations. This follows what analysts termed as successful meetings between Choummaly Sayasone, Lao president and general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, or LPRP, and Xi Jinping, China president and secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, at the Great Hall of the People at Beijing last week.

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Regardless of shifting international conditions, both leaders pledged greater cooperation and a continuing relationship between the two Asian nations. Choummaly led a large Laotian delegation to the Great Hall talks. While saying Laos had profited greatly from its increased partnership with Beijing, Laotians promised increased contacts and new initiatives in agriculture, transportation and Internet development thanks to Chinese assistance.

Xi was reported by Lao News TV as saying China valued the partnership and wanted to increase mutual strategic planning centered on reciprocal trust and joint assistance. China and Laos faced many similar issues regarding development and reform while facing similar international and regional issues, Xi said.

Continuing on those themes, Xi said Communist Party exchanges would increase while the two nations worked on synchronizing development strategies and increased cooperation on energy projects like hydroelectric generation, infrastructure and farming. He asked for closer coordination concerning border protection and security as the nations partnered to fight terrorism and promote stability and peace in the region.

Choummaly said he believed the two nations shared similar regional interests, adding that the Laotian side appreciated the relationship and support. Chinese assistance had greatly aided Lao development, he said.

Both sides said they wanted to keep in close contact and encourage youth and people-to-people exchanges along with additional cultural and educational partnerships. They signed a series of agreements at the Great Hall last week to facilitate the higher levels of cooperation and partnership.

The Great Hall meetings last week followed up on earlier bilateral sessions between Laotian and Chinese officials in April setting the agenda for the relationship moving forward.

TagsLaos, politics, communist parties, asian issues, asian development