President Jiang Zemin Meets Lao PM

Chinese President Meets with Lao Premier

Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin Sunday morning met with Lao Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphanh in the Presidential Palace in Vientiane.

During the meeting, Jiang said Sisavath is an old friend of the Chinese people and has made important contributions to the development of the relations between the two countries.

Sisavath replied that he is very happy to meet Jiang in Vientiane. Jiang's current visit is historical, he noted, "and is a great support to the on-going renovation and opening-up drive of the Lao government and people."

Speaking highly of China's achievements in its reform and opening-up, he said the talks between Presidents Jiang and Khamtay have laid a solid foundation for furthering the relations between the two countries. The Lao government will firmly carry out the common understanding reached by the heads of state, he added.

Jiang said, "I have long wanted to visit Laos -- China's close neighbor, and today my desire is finally realized," expressing his thanks for the warm reception he received.

The Sino-Lao relations in the political, economic and other fields are developing soundly, Jiang pointed out, and to strengthen the long-term good-neighborliness is in the fundamental interests of their peoples. "I and President Khamtay have exchanged views for the bilateral, all-round cooperation in the new millenium in an in-depth way, and have reached wide-ranging consensus."

Stressing that the world is rich and varied, Jiang said that every nation, big or small, has its own weakness and strong points, and good neighbors like China and Laos, in particular, should learn from each other.

Laos is the first leg of Jiang's three-nation Asian tour of Laos, Cambodia and Brunei where he is also expected to attend the 8th Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Informal Meeting.