Banquet Marks Sino-Laotian Diplomatic TiesLaotian Ambassador to China Soukthavone Keola held a banquet Wednesday evening to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and China.Soukthavone said in his speech that Laos and China, two neighboring countries, have long been supporting and helping each other. He said that the friendly cooperation between the two countries in various areas have grown substantially especially in the past 10 years. He noted that the Laotian government and people attach importance to enhancing the traditional friendship and cooperation with the Chinese side. Soukthavone added that Laos will take concrete measures to implement the joint statement on bilateral cooperation and further push forward the good neighborly friendship and cooperation in the new century. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said on behalf of Luo Gan, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and a State Councilor, who is also present on the occasion, that friendship and cooperation have been the mainstream in Sino-Laotian relations during the past four decades. Wang said President Jiang Zemin's visit to Laos at the end of last year opened a new chapter in bilateral ties. He said that he believes the long-term, stable, mutual trust and all-round cooperation will further be consolidated with concerted efforts of the peoples of the two countries. Osakan Thammathewa, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and head of the Central Propaganda Training Department of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, and Somsavat Lengsavad, a member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who are currently visiting China, were also present at the banquet. |
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