Lao party chief forecasts thriving Laos-China cooperation with bigger progress

"Laos and China share strong tradition of solidarity and mutual support, and I believe our common aspiration for a better development will surely help both countries to score more and bigger achievements", visiting Lao party chief Choummaly Sayasone said Sunday in Hangzhou.

Choummaly, who is the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and Lao President, made the remark in an exclusive interview with Xinhua before he concluded his China visit and flew back to Laos.

Choummaly expressed his confidence in the future development between the bilateral party and state relations, highlighting that his visit, first since he was elected party chief in March and president in June, will further the mutual understanding of the two state leaders and boost the traditional close relations "to a higher level".

"The all-round friendly and cooperative relations are on a track to a stable development, which is producing more and more positive outcomes and serves the interests and will of the two parties, two governments and two peoples", Choummaly said.

"Laotian and Chinese people always bear a strong will in mind to continue to strengthen the brotherly relations which I believe will be sure to bring concrete benefits to the both sides", Choummaly added.

He also expressed his appreciation to China who supported and helped the country whenever in the past revolutionary period or current economic development period.

As a guest of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Hu Jintao, Choummaly arrived in Beijing last Thursday, kicking off his week-long state visit to China.

Choummaly held talks and met with Hu Jintao, Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong and tripped to the Central China's province Henan, Chinese economic powerhouse Shanghai and an eastern province of Zhejiang.

During the visit, China and Laos also issued a joint statement, vowing to continue to cement the bilateral cooperation in various fields such as national defense, public security, judiciary affairs, culture, education and sports.

Choummaly told Xinhua that he was very impressed by the huge success that China made on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and he is "very honored" to lead the delegation to visit China as the CPC is marking its 85th birthday anniversary..

"I wish China would make bigger achievement on the socialist construction with Chinese characteristics and the friendship and cooperative relations between the two parties, two governments and two peoples would last forever", Choummaly said.

Source: Xinhua