China and Laos said on Sunday that they will further strengthen
bilateral cooperation in various fields, including increasing
political and economic exchanges and coordinating efforts in the
fight against cross-border crimes like drug-trafficking.
In
a joint declaration signed in Vientiane, the two sides agreed to
set up a framework for bilateral cooperation at the beginning of
the new century, in their further efforts towards the establishment
of a long, stable relationship of good neighborhood, mutual trust
and all-round cooperation.
The declaration was signed by Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and
Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad during Chinese
President Jiang Zemin's visit.
The two sides agreed to maintain contacts and exchange of visits at
the high-level, and enhance the exchanges and cooperation between
government departments, parliaments, the armed forces,
non-government organizations and civil groups of the two
countries.
The foreign ministries of the two countries will maintain bilateral
consultations and exchanges on bilateral issues and regional and
international issues of mutual concern through regular contacts and
communications, the declaration said.
To
tighten economic and trade ties, the two countries are committed to
increasing China-Laos border trade, encouraging the two-way
investment and strengthening cooperation in labor-consuming
projects, according to the declaration. China also promised to list
Laos as the recommended tourist destination for Chinese
citizens.
Agriculture and forestry is one of the key sectors singled out for
further cooperation between the two countries, which covers the
areas of exploitation of natural resources, technology and
machinery, processing industry, prevention and detection of plant
diseases and insect pests, and environmental protection.
More people-to-people exchanges in the fields of culture,
education, health and sports will be made through exchanging
visitors and students and holding exhibitions, said the
declaration.
In
efforts to beef up the bilateral security cooperation, both sides
also pledged to further strengthen the friendly exchange and
cooperation between the defense institutions and armed forces of
the two countries through maintaining the high-level exchange of
visits and expanding exchanges of experts, according to the
declaration.
Expressing satisfaction with the management of the China-Laos
border, the two countries agreed to intensify the exchange of
information between their police and judiciary departments in a
joint effort to crack down on trans-national crimes including
smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.
The declaration highlighted the importance of the four-way economic
cooperation among China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, and the
economic cooperation in the Mekong River sub-region involving
China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. To strengthen
such cooperation is in keeping with the common and long-term
interests of the two countries and the whole region, the
declaration said, adding that China and Laos will offer greater
support and cooperation in this regard.
In
the declaration, the Lao side reiterated its firm commitment to its
one-China policy -- acknowledging that the government of the
People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of
China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory,
and strongly opposing any attempt to create "two Chinas " or "one
China, one Taiwan."
Pledging close China-Laos cooperation and coordination on various
regional and international arenas, the two sides share the view
that peace and development remain to be the two major themes for
today's world and multi-polarization has become an inevitable trend
in international relations.
The two countries voiced their opposition to any attempt towards a
unipolar world and promised to make joint efforts for the
establishment of a fair and equitable new international political
and economic order.
The two sides reiterated that the principle of the universality of
human rights must be linked with each country's specific national
conditions, which include the historical tradition and cultural
heritage. Any country, big or small, strong or weak, has the right
to choose the social system and path of development according to
its own national conditions, the declaration said.
The two countries are opposed to any hegemonic deeds of using human
rights as an excuse to infringe upon a country's national
sovereignty and interfere in its internal affairs, said the joint
declaration.
(Xinhua 11/12/2000)