BANGKOK -- Thanks to efforts by generations of leaders from both sides, the Sino-Lao friendship has continuously consolidated and developed since the two neighbors established diplomatic relations in 1961.

In the new century, exchanges of high-level visits have been frequent, fruitful cooperation has been carried out in various fields and at multiple levels, and the two countries have coordinated and cooperated effectively in regional and international issues.

Close contacts between leaders of the two countries have helped increase mutual trust between the two countries and vigorously pushed forward the good-neighborly and friendly relations.

In November 2000, former Chinese President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to Laos. As it was the first visit to Laos by a Chinese head of state, it stood out as a milestone in the history of bilateral relations.

During that visit, the Joint Statement on bilateral cooperation was signed and issued, setting the goal of developing bilateral ties of all-round cooperation characterized by long-term stability, good-neighborliness, friendship and mutual trust.

In June 2006, Lao President Choummaly Sayasone visited China and held talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. The two presidents spoke highly of the Sino-Lao relations and agreed to make further efforts to push bilateral ties to a new high.

China and Laos have always cooperated with and supported each other, with Laos firmly supporting China's policies on Taiwan, Tibet and human rights issues, and following the "one China" policy, and China backing Laos' adherence to the path of socialist development, as well as its reform and opening up.

The two countries share a 500-km-long joint boundary. In October 1991, the two signed the Sino-Laotian Boundary Treaty, Treaty on the Sino-Laotian Boundary System and Supplementary Protocol to the Treaty on the Sino-Laotian Boundary System.

Having found a successful solution to their boundary dispute in a relatively short time through friendly consultations, China and Laos have set an example for states striving to resolve boundary questions through peaceful talks.

Economic and trade relations between China and Laos have also developed smoothly over the past years. Cooperation agreements in trade, investment protection, tourism and automobile transport were signed and a committee on bilateral economic, trade and technological cooperation was set up.

In 2005, Sino-Lao trade volume reached 129 million U.S. dollars, up 13.55 percent from the previous year. From January to May of 2006, bilateral trade volume stood at 89 million U.S. dollars, a year-on-year growth of 106.3 percent.

Since 1989, China and Laos have signed agreements on cultural and press cooperation as well as memorandums of understanding on cooperation in education, health, broadcasting, films and TV.

There are also frequent exchanges of visits between performing artists, writers and journalists of the two countries. Both sides started to exchange students and vocational trainees in 1990.