On the evening of October 22, 2024 local time, President Xi Jinping met with General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in Kazan.
Noting that in October last year, the two sides reached important common understandings on deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Laos, Xi Jinping said that over the past year, various departments and regions of the two parties and countries have actively implemented the common understandings, promoting fruitful cooperation in areas such as connectivity, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges. As socialist comrades and brothers, bilateral relations are of special importance in China's neighborhood diplomacy, and the two countries have always stayed at the forefront of building a community with a shared future. Regardless of how the international situation changes, China will always be a trustworthy friend and partner of Laos. Noting that China is advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development, while Laos is also entering a new stage of national development and revitalization, Xi Jinping said that China is ready to work with Laos to strengthen strategic mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and achieve solid progress in building the China-Laos community with a shared future.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with Laos and continue to firmly support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. The two sides should continue to expand and strengthen the China-Laos Railway, advance the development of the China-Laos Economic Corridor, and create a model for Belt and Road cooperation. China is willing to import more high-quality agricultural products from Laos and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as education, culture and youth. Congratulating Laos on successfully hosting the leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation, Xi Jinping said he welcomes Laos' active participation in BRICS cooperation. The two sides should strengthen multilateral coordination and collaboration to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and the interests of developing countries.
Thongloun Sisoulith said that he went to China last year to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and signed with General Secretary Xi Jinping a new version of the action plan for building a Laos-China community with a shared future, which has been implemented effectively at present. Laos-China relations are at their best in history, with bilateral cooperation expanding in depth and breadth. Noting that over the years, China has provided valuable support for Laos, greatly promoting the economic and social development of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith said that he looks forward to working with China to continuously advance the Laos-China Railway and the Laos-China Economic Corridor and build the Laos-China community with a shared future. He reiterated that the Lao party and government will unswervingly adhere to the one-China policy, firmly support the Chinese government in defending its national core interests and support China's legitimate position on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. He thanked China for its strong support for Laos in hosting the leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation and said Laos is willing to continue close cooperation with China in ASEAN and on other multilateral platforms.
Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, attended the meeting.