Xi meets special envoy of Lao leader Thongloun

President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for China and Laos to deepen strategic coordination, expand practical cooperation and ensure the implementation of the new five-year action plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in Beijing when meeting with Saleumxay Kommasith, special envoy of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.

Saleumxay, a politburo member of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao deputy prime minister, conveyed a personal letter from Thongloun to Xi and briefed him on the 12th National Congress of the LPRP, which was held in January.

Xi told Saleumxay that the exchange of special envoys between the two parties to brief each other on their respective major political agendas reflects the profound traditional friendship and high-level political mutual trust between China and Laos.

Xi said that he and Thongloun had recently exchanged letters and reached an important consensus on deepening the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future.

He also expressed confidence that under the strong leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by Thongloun, the Lao party, state and people will overcome difficulties, successfully accomplish all goals and tasks, stay firmly on the socialist path, and realize the centenary goal of the party.

Noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as well as the Year of China-Laos Friendship, Xi said that the two sides should continue to uphold the principle of "long-term stability, good-neighborly friendship, mutual trust and all-around cooperation" and the spirit of "good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners" in developing bilateral ties.

He called on the two countries to strengthen strategic coordination concerning the future of socialism, deepen the alignment of development strategies, expand practical cooperation, jointly tackle common challenges, and steadily advance the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future toward the goals of high standards, high quality and high level.

Saleumxay said that China has long maintained a secure and stable domestic political and social environment, created a miracle of sustained and rapid economic growth, and continuously increased its role and influence on the international stage.

He said that Laos firmly supports the major global initiatives proposed by Xi and stands ready to deepen comprehensive and practical cooperation with China and achieve new outcomes in building the Laos-China community with a shared future.