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Chinese President Meets Former Lao President
Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin Sunday morning met with former Lao President Nouhak Phoumsavan in the Presidential Palace in Vientiane.
After greeting each other warmly, Jiang said, it is of great pleasure to see Nouhak again in Vientiane five years after their meeting in Beijing in 1995. "I feel particularly glad to note that you enjoy such a good health," Jiang told him.
Nouhak said, Jiang's current visit to Laos is the first by a head of state of the People's Republic of China, it is of great historical significance and a milestone in the relations between the two countries. He expressed welcome and thanks to Jiang.
Nouhak is a leader of the older-generation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the state, an old friend of the Chinese people who has for a long time made great efforts and contributions to the Sino-Lao friendship, Jiang said.
"We express our appreciation and thanks, and wish you good health and longevity," he added.
Jiang continued that China and Laos are two countries closely linked by common mountains and rivers, the friendship between the two peoples has a long history.
"Once we are here in Laos, we are given warm welcome and reception. We are like living in a sea of friendship," he said.
Jiang noted that he had held very good meetings with leaders of Laos earlier this morning. "We all feel at home here. We are willing to, in the new millenium, consolidate and develop the relations of long-term stability, good neighborhood, mutual trust and all-round cooperation."
Nouhak hoped that Jiang's visit will be a success.
Jiang is on the first leg of his three-nation Asian tour of Laos, Cambodia and Brunei where he will also attend the 8th Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Informal Summit.
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