The centuries-old China-Laos friendly relations and cooperation have been developing steadily in an all-around way in recent years and will further prosper in the future, a Lao official said.
"Leaders of the two countries have frequently exchanged visits, calling on each other like close relatives," Mayene Inseng, president of the Committee for Laos-China Cooperation (CLCC), a Lao government agency in charge of cooperation with China, said Sunday in Vientiane.
He noted that after Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Lao President Khamtay Siphandone exchanged state visits in 2000, Lao Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachit visited China in February this year.
Linked by common rivers and mountains, China and Laos have peacefully coexisted and have been good neighbors since ancient times. Especially after the normal ties were restored between the two countries in 1989, the bilateral relations have been developing very quickly.
"In November 2000, a joint declaration on bilateral relations was signed during Jiang's visit to Laos, which provided guidance for fostering long-term friendly relations, cooperation, mutual-trust and good neighborliness between the two countries in the 21st century," Mayene recalled.
To realize the vision shared by leaders of the two countries on the future of bilateral ties, concerned agencies of both countries have recently signed a series of agreements on trade, investment, land transport, tariff, extradition, education, banking and other aspects, which has laid a solid foundation for further friendly cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, the Lao official said.
According to Lao official figures, trade between Laos and China has been growing continuously in recent years. The two-way trade value reached US$43.71 million last year, up 13.7 percent from that of the previous year, with China's exports to Laos accounting for US$36.77 million and Lao exports to China US$6.94 million.
The bilateral trade is mostly operated in three Lao provinces bordering China and usually in the form of barter.
Meanwhile, China has become a major investor in Laos during past few years and a large number of Chinese firms have made investments in the country. Last year alone, China invested in 10 Lao projects worth US$6.21 million.
Presently, total Chinese investment in Laos has reached US$128 million, including 58 Chinese-owned projects and 37 joint ventures.
"Moreover, China has offered a lot of soft loans and Official Direct Assistance (ODA) to Laos since 1989, which has greatly boosted the development of the Lao economy," said Mayene.
According to the CLCC official, China's financial assistance to Laos in the past 13 years totaled US$1.17 billion, including US$339 million in ODA, US$602 million in special loans and US$228 million in non-interest loans.
The cultural and educational exchanges between Laos and China are also progressing smoothly. Starting from the 1999-2000 academic year, China offers scholarship for 55 Lao students to study in Chinese universities every year. The annual scholarship quota will be increased to 230 students after 2005.
In addition, China has provided professional and technological trainings for many Lao government officials, and bilateral exchanges are also active in the areas of media, recreation and sports.
"Nowadays, the evidence of Laos-China cooperation can be witnessed everywhere in our country," said Mayene.
One of the most famous concrete examples of the cooperation is the Lao National Cultural Palace, a grandiose building situated in the heartland of the Lao capital which was constructed with Chinese help.
"The building has become a symbol for the cultural exchange and friendly relations between our two countries," said the Lao official.
Another example is the two cement factories newly built as Sino-Lao joint ventures. With Chinese funding and technical assistance, the Wanrong Cement Factory One and Factory Two in the suburb of Vientiane have produced first batches of home-made cement products in the Lao history.
"The two projects saved Laos a large sum of foreign exchanges which otherwise would have been spent in buying foreign cements. The two factories now contribute greatly to our social and economic development," noted Mayene.
"China is a strategic partner of Laos, and the two countries share common rivers and borders, and, particularly, the centuries-long friendship," he said.
"The two ruling parties, two countries and the two peoples of Laos and China have always supported each other and cemented a profound friendship, which I believe is now at the best ever stage," said the Lao official.
"The ever-growing all-around friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries will make significant contributions to both countries, the region and even the whole world," he concluded.
(People's Daily May 13, 2002)
