(KPL) Party Secretary General and State President Thongloun Sisoulith welcomed a high-level Chinese delegation led by Mr. Wang Yi, Communist Party of China Central Committee member, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China.

Mr. Wang Yi is on his official visit to the Lao PDR to participate in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting from July 24-28, 2024.

Secretary General Thongloun Sisoulith expressed his pleasure in meeting Mr. Wang Yi and his delegation. He extended greetings to Mr. Xi Jinping, Secretary General and President of China, and expressed appreciation for the successful third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which concluded in Beijing last week. Both sides appreciated the long-standing friendship and stable strategic partnership, known as the "Four-Good" Lao-China, China-Laos strategic partnership.

They highlighted the enhanced cooperation and congratulated each other on the success of the Laos-China railway, which underscores the effective integration of China's "Belt and Road" Initiative and Laos' strategy on transforming itself into a connected country in the sub-region. On behalf of the party, government, and people of Laos, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith expressed sincere gratitude to the party, government, and people of China for their valuable assistance over the years, including support for Lao PDR's ASEAN chairmanship in 2024. Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith proposed that both sides continue to coordinate closely to implement the "Master Plan on the Creation of Laos-China, China-Laos Partnership" for 2024-2028. This plan aims to strengthen the connection between Laos and China, facilitate railway use between the two countries, and accelerate the development of the Lao-China Economic Corridor.Lastly, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith extended an invitation to Mr. Xi Jinping, Secretary General and President of China, to visit the Lao PDR at his convenience.

KPL