You are here: Home

Li's Laos tour strengthens bond, boosts cooperation

: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, September 28, 2016

Adjust font size:

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) arrives in the Laotian capital of Vientiane on Sept. 6, 2016, setting in motion his first official visit to the country. Li will also attend the 19th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, and the 19th meeting of the leaders of ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3).

Relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were significantly enhanced, and cooperation among East Asian countries was considerably vitalized by the four-day visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to the Laotian capital Vientiane from September 6 to 9.

It was his first official visit to the country, where he also attended the 19th ASEAN-China Summit, the 19th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 11th East Asia Summit.

China-ASEAN ties enhanced

At the 19th ASEAN-China Summit, marking the 25th anniversary of their dialogue relationship, Premier Li said: "If we say the past 25 years were a period of growth for the China-ASEAN relations, the upcoming 25 years will be a period of maturity, with new opportunities and challenges."

China would continue to strive to form a closer community of shared interests with Southeast Asian nations in the future, he said, while putting forward a five-point proposed vision.

Both sides should better coordinate their development strategies, establish a new platform for political and security cooperation, facilitate free trade and investment, advance cultural and people-to-people exchanges and jointly enhance regional cooperation, the premier added.

Four joint statements were issued after the meeting, with the two sides pledging to further cooperate and resolve territorial and jurisdictional disputes through friendly consultations and negotiations by the sovereign states directly concerned.

Vowing to maintain peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as well as overflights, the two sides called for effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and agreed to adopt the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) as early as possible.

On economic issues, they agreed to effectively implement the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area and explore ways to improve connectivity through common priorities identified in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

East Asia cooperation vitalized

Addressing the 19th summit of ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea), Premier Li made a six-pronged proposal on the development of the ASEAN+3 mechanism.

Relevant countries should strengthen financial security cooperation, deepen trade and investment cooperation, promote cooperation in agriculture and poverty reduction, advance inter-connectivity, innovate production capacity cooperation mode and increase people-to-people exchanges, he suggested.

In a joint statement, participants pledged to work together to fulfill the 17 "sustainable development goals" (SDGs) over the coming decades within the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation framework.

At the 11th East Asia Summit (EAS), Premier Li urged efforts to put ASEAN in a central position in East Asia cooperation, and reaffirmed the two-pronged goal of economic development and political security for the EAS.

To advance economic development, he said, all parties should place regional connectivity high on the agenda, step up construction of a free trade area, and ensure greater cooperation in social undertakings.

To ensure political security, Premier Li called for formulating a new Asian security concept that would have common ideals, and be comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable.

He also urged closer cooperation on non-traditional security issues including terrorism, natural disasters, trans-national crime and infectious diseases.

The summit leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia and the world at large and agreed on establishing a framework that could effectively meet non-traditional challenges.

As for disputes in the South China Sea, they agreed to settle all the thorny issues by peaceful and diplomatic means based on the DOC and the COC.

Only by strengthening cooperation and building mutual trust could East Asia safeguard its peace and security and maintain economic prosperity, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin commented after the summit.

China-Laos friendship refreshed

Sharing the same political system, China and Laos were able to raise their bilateral ties to a new level as the two countries signed 20 documents to boost cooperation.

After the EAS, Li began his official visit to the landlocked Asian country, the first during his term of office and also commemorating the 55th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations.

Located at a unique geographical position, Laos is China's important partner in building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

During talks with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit, Premier Li said China would like to promote more high-level contacts, share experiences in the governance of their respective countries and deepen pragmatic cooperation.

Meeting with his counterpart Thongloun, the Chinese visitor called for a comprehensive strategic partnership by maintaining close high-level contact, strengthening dialogue and coordination and promoting practical cooperation in various fields.

Premier Li also said China was willing to align its 13th Five-Year Plan with the Laotian 8th Five-Year Plan to promote production capacity and investment cooperation.

China is willing to maintain close coordination with Laos on international and regional issues, enabling them to firmly support each other, strengthen cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as East Asia cooperation and the Lancang-Mekong River Cooperation, he added.

During his visit, Premier Li also held talks with National Assembly President Pany Yathotou and laid a wreath at the Laotian unknown martyr's monument. He also visited a Chinese-language school, Lieutou Chinese School, on the last day of his tour.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (5th L) attends the 19th summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, in Vientiane, Laos, Sept. 7, 2016.