Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong assured U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday that his country will help in countering China's influence in South China Sea.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's historic tour to Laos is part of his ongoing East Asian tour amid tension between East Asian nations over the disputed South China Sea. Kerry will be soon visiting China and Vietnam as part of his on-going tour - the two countries that are on the fore front of maritime crisis.

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Laos Prime Minister's assurance carries a huge significance for the U.S, as Laos will be taking chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. The ASEAN summit will be hosted in Laos later this year, which will also be attended by U.S president Barack Obama.

"Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong was very clear that he wants a unified ASEAN and he wants maritime rights protected and he wants to avoid militarization and avoid the conflict," Kerry told reporters after his hour-long meeting with the Laos Prime Minister.

Kerry also stated that relations between U.S and Laos - at one point of war time foes - are improving steadily. Reflecting this growing bonhomie, John Kerry along with Laos's Deputy Prime Minister visited That Luang - the golden spire Buddhist structure - Laos' most sacred monument.

Laos shares friendly relation with China, But is to be less dependent on it.

Traditionally, China and Laos have shared very warm and friendly relations. In fact, Chas always been one of the leading foreign investors in Laos, with Beijing reportedly investing more than $5 billion in 2014.

Analysts, however, believe that Laos has been getting wary over its increasing financial dependence on China. Prompting the small nation to get warm with countries that China traditionally has shared bitter relations. This especially includes countries like 'Vietnam' and 'Japan.'

TagsLaos, china, South China Sea