President Hu Jintao made a five-point proposal in Vientiane yesterday concerning the further development of Sino-Lao relations:

 

l         Maintaining a high-level annual meeting mechanism to discuss issues of common concern

 

l         Strengthening government experience exchanges to learn from each other

 

l         Expanding economic and trade cooperation, with the Chinese side promoting more Chinese investment in Laos and continuing to provide aid to Laos within its capability

 

l         Strengthening cooperation in safeguarding border security, fighting trans-border crimes, and promoting youth exchanges and cooperation in education, healthy and tourism

 

l         Enhancing mutual support in international and regional affairs and conducting timely coordination on such issues

 

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the above proposal during talks with Choummaly Sayasone, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (PRP) and Lao president.

Agreeing with Hu, Choummaly said the Lao side will work with the Chinese side to implement the proposal and hoped that the two countries will strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, investment, power, mining, infrastructure construction and tourism.

 

During the talks, Hu and Choummaly spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations based on the principles of long-term stability, cross-border friendship, mutual trust and all-round cooperation.

 

Hu said that to strengthen bilateral traditional friendship and cooperation is in the fundamental interest of the two peoples and conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

 

He reiterated the Chinese side's attachment to bilateral relations and to remaining good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners of Laos.

 

He expressed his appreciation for Laos' consistent and firm support for China on such issues as Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.

 

Choummaly said no matter what changes take place on the international stage, Laos will firmly develop comprehensive cooperation with China, conforming to the fundamental interest of the two countries and their peoples.

 

He said Laos abides by the one-China policy, opposes "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities and supports China's reunification.

 

After the talks, Hu and Choummaly attended a signing ceremony for bilateral cooperative documents covering economic and technological cooperation, health, power and e-government, as well as a ceremony marking the launch of China Radio International’s FM radio station in Vientiane.

 

Hu arrived here Sunday afternoon from Vietnam after concluding a state visit and attending the 14th APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Meeting that ended November 19 in Hanoi.

 

Laos is the second leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which will also take him to India and Pakistan.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2006)