NPC Chairman Meets Lao PM ����Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), said January 26 that at a time when China and Laos are deepening their reforms, there is a common task for both to strengthen socialist democracy and legislation so as to guarantee a healthy development of their economies and other social causes. ����Li made the remarks during his meeting with visiting Lao Prime Minister Sisavat Keobounphan, who is in Beijing on an eight-day official visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Zhu Rongji. ����The communication and cooperation between the NPC and the Lao National Assembly constitutes an important part of the overall bilateral ties, and the NPC is willing to further increase its cooperation with the latter in a bid to play an even more significant role in national construction and development, he said. ����Sisavat voiced his consent over this point. He congratulated the Chinese Communist Party and government on their considerable achievements over the past 50 years since the founding of new China and especially in the past 20 years, saying these have laid a solid foundation for China's entry into the next century. ����They also briefed each other on the general work of the legislative institutes of their respective countries. ����Li recalled his visit to Laos in 1990, and expressed his joy over meeting Laotian friends. He asked Sisavat to convey his regards to Saman Vinhaket, president of the Lao National Assembly, and Khamtay Siphandone, the Lao state president and president of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. ����Sisavat also conveyed to Li cordial regards from Saman and the leaders of the Lao Revolutionary Party. ����Li said that during the 10 years since the normalization of bilateral ties, relations between the two parties and the two countries have witnessed overall progress. Although the two countries have different national conditions, they share the same socialist system and development orientation. China is satisfied with and highly evaluates the smooth growth of bilateral ties, he added. ����Sisavat said China is a reliable close neighbor of Laos, and at this trans-century juncture, Laos, from a strategic perspective, hopes to establish long-term and stable relationship with China. ����Laos always supports China's domestic and foreign policies, considers Taiwan an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and will steadfastly pursue the "one China" policy, he stressed. HomeNews 1999-01-27 Page1 Full Story in Chinese