The most senior Chinese official ever to visit the Southeast Asian country, Jiang and Laotian Chairman of state Khamtay Siphandone held 90 minutes of talks after a grand welcoming ceremony.

The two heads of state reached "complete consensus" on a broad range of issues including socialism, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Thanking the Laotian people for their hospitality during his two-day visit, Jiang said the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government are keen to seal their friendship and improve links with Laos.

The president said China wanted to stay in close contact with Laos at different levels - including regional and international multilateral forums - and invited his Laotian counterpart and other leaders to visit China more often, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The president said China will buoy mutually-beneficial collaboration with Laos in trade, investment and agricultural spheres, adding that such cooperation, which remains a great potential to be tapped, serves as a key foundation for bilateral ties.

The presidents of both developing countries reviewed socialist developments and experiences.

Jiang said that over the past century and a half, socialism had reshaped the world by blazing a new trail leading to human and social progress. Evolving from a dream into reality, the social system has now been practised by many countries, he said.

Jiang said socialism is not on a smooth or direct course and that communists in various countries are renewing their thinking and ideas about what it is, how to build it up and how to tailor it to their own countries' needs.

Jiang said the earth-shattering changes which had taken place in China following its reforms and opening-up policies over the past 20 years or so were the results of combining scientific socialism with the actual conditions of modern China.

Echoing Jiang's remarks, Khamtay said China's theory, practice and achievements in building a socialist system with Chinese characteristics was very useful to Laos.

He said he fully agreed with President Jiang's comments and proposals on furthering Sino-Laotian cooperation, which he said "reflect the mutual understanding and traditional friendship and solidarity between the two nations."

Laos is willing to reinforce all-round, long-term, mutually-beneficial and productive cooperation with China, he said.

The Laos chairman reiterated his government's firm and clear-cut adherence to the one-China policy, for which Jiang expressed his thanks.

Jiang and Khamtay then exchanged views on current world affairs.

President Jiang also met Laotian Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphan, Chairman of the National Assembly Samane Vingaket and former Chairman of the State Nouhak Phoumsavanh yesterday.

He will fly to Cambodia today before heading to Brunei tomorrow, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry sources.

Collaboration between China and Laos is set to move into full swing following the drawing up of a cooperative framework between the neighbouring countries.

A joint statement signed by Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and his Laotian counterpart Somsavat Lengsavad last night promised to maintain high-level close contact and expand Party, governmental and parliamentary exchanges, deepening traditional good-neighbourly relations between the two countries.

The document is one of the fruits of President Jiang Zemin's first visit to Laos over the weekend.

Since bilateral ties were normalized in 1989, China and Laos have seen comprehensive restoration and expansion of links in political, economic, trade, military and cultural areas, the statement noted.

The two sides agreed to improve laws and regulations to enhance economic and trade activity, and to explore new channels to bolster the two-way trade.

Bilateral trade volume topped US$28 million during the first nine months of the year, chalking up 23.9 percent from the same period last year. China's export volume reached US$23.9 million during the period, up 52.8 percent, while imports stood at US$4.88 million, down by 35.7 percent, according to the latest customs statistics.

The statement vowed to adopt effective measures to expand border trade, and continue to back two-way investment, meanwhile amplifying cooperation in labour and project contracting.

China also agreed to promote Laos as a tourist destination for Chinese people

(China Daily 11/13/2000)