Top Chinese legislator holds talks with Lao counterpart to cement ties

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), holds talks with Lao National Assembly President Pany Yathotou at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks with his Lao counterpart Pany Yathotou in Beijing on Tuesday.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that China-Laos relations have entered a new era of building a community of shared future between the two countries. The two countries share similar political systems and beliefs and there is great potential for cooperation in various fields.

Li called on the two countries to enhance cooperation, cement coordination on major issues, and firmly support each other in safeguarding their own sovereignty, security and development interests.

Li said the Chinese side is willing to promote the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Lao development strategy, and strengthen cooperation in such fields as production capacity, investment, railways, the China-Laos economic corridor, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

The Chinese legislator also called for closer exchanges between the two legislative bodies.

Li also briefed Pany on the recently concluded fourth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Pany, president of the Lao National Assembly, said the two sides should further develop the friendship and cooperation between the two political parties, the two countries and the two peoples, and implement the action plan signed by leaders of the two countries for building a community of shared future.

Pany also expected to deepen the exchanges between the two legislative bodies to provide legal guarantees for promoting state-to-state cooperation.