China and Laos said on Sunday that they will further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, including increasing political and economic exchanges and coordinating efforts in the fight against cross-border crimes like drug-trafficking.

In a joint declaration signed in Vientiane, the two sides agreed to set up a framework for bilateral cooperation at the beginning of the new century, in their further efforts towards the establishment of a long, stable relationship of good neighborhood, mutual trust and all-round cooperation.

The declaration was signed by Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad during Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit.

The two sides agreed to maintain contacts and exchange of visits at the high-level, and enhance the exchanges and cooperation between government departments, parliaments, the armed forces, non-government organizations and civil groups of the two countries.

The foreign ministries of the two countries will maintain bilateral consultations and exchanges on bilateral issues and regional and international issues of mutual concern through regular contacts and communications, the declaration said.

To tighten economic and trade ties, the two countries are committed to increasing China-Laos border trade, encouraging the two-way investment and strengthening cooperation in labor-consuming projects, according to the declaration. China also promised to list Laos as the recommended tourist destination for Chinese citizens.

Agriculture and forestry is one of the key sectors singled out for further cooperation between the two countries, which covers the areas of exploitation of natural resources, technology and machinery, processing industry, prevention and detection of plant diseases and insect pests, and environmental protection.

More people-to-people exchanges in the fields of culture, education, health and sports will be made through exchanging visitors and students and holding exhibitions, said the declaration.

In efforts to beef up the bilateral security cooperation, both sides also pledged to further strengthen the friendly exchange and cooperation between the defense institutions and armed forces of the two countries through maintaining the high-level exchange of visits and expanding exchanges of experts, according to the declaration.

Expressing satisfaction with the management of the China-Laos border, the two countries agreed to intensify the exchange of information between their police and judiciary departments in a joint effort to crack down on trans-national crimes including smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.

The declaration highlighted the importance of the four-way economic cooperation among China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, and the economic cooperation in the Mekong River sub-region involving China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. To strengthen such cooperation is in keeping with the common and long-term interests of the two countries and the whole region, the declaration said, adding that China and Laos will offer greater support and cooperation in this regard.

In the declaration, the Lao side reiterated its firm commitment to its one-China policy -- acknowledging that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and strongly opposing any attempt to create "two Chinas " or "one China, one Taiwan."

Pledging close China-Laos cooperation and coordination on various regional and international arenas, the two sides share the view that peace and development remain to be the two major themes for today's world and multi-polarization has become an inevitable trend in international relations.

The two countries voiced their opposition to any attempt towards a unipolar world and promised to make joint efforts for the establishment of a fair and equitable new international political and economic order.

The two sides reiterated that the principle of the universality of human rights must be linked with each country's specific national conditions, which include the historical tradition and cultural heritage. Any country, big or small, strong or weak, has the right to choose the social system and path of development according to its own national conditions, the declaration said.

The two countries are opposed to any hegemonic deeds of using human rights as an excuse to infringe upon a country's national sovereignty and interfere in its internal affairs, said the joint declaration.

(Xinhua 11/12/2000)