Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on Sunday morning for an official visit from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30.

In a written statement upon his arrival at the airport, Wen said he is expected to have an in-depth exchange of views with the Laotian leaders on the enhancement of traditional friendship, good-neighborly relations of mutual trust, as well as the all-round cooperation between China and Laos.

Wen is visiting Laos for the first time as premier, and this visit is also the first of its kind for the key members of China's new leadership.

"I also hope to have a chance to contact the Laotian people and learn the unique culture of the country," Wen said.

He noted China and Laos are close neighbors and the traditional friendship is time-tested. The comprehensive and cooperative relationship has been furthered with increased political trust and sincere economic cooperation, he added.

"Continuing Sino-Laos relations is in conformity with the fundamental interest of the two peoples, and is conducive to regional peace and development," Wen said.

During his stay in Vientiane, Wen will also attend the eighth summit between ASEAN and China, and between ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), as well as the sixth China-Japan-ROK summit.

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is made up of Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. China established strategic partnership with ASEAN in 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2004)