Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and his Laotian counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh agreed on Tuesday to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

 

Wen said the China-Laos relationship was at its all-time high, and that China was willing to make further efforts to push forward the cooperation deeply and comprehensively, especially in fields like infrastructure, hydropower and mineral resources.

 

As for the construction of a Mekong River bridge, which connects Kunming, capital city of Yunnan Province in southern China, and the Thai capital of Bangkok, Wen said China would positively consider providing financial assistance to the project.

 

Wen also appreciated Laos' firm support to China on the Taiwan, Tibet and human rights issues.

 

Bouasone said Laos would firmly adhere to the one-China policy, and appreciates the active role China had played in promoting peace and development of the world.

 

He hoped China to continue participating actively in Laos' economic development.

 

Bouasone, along with other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, attended the commemorative summit marking the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations, the third China-ASEAN Expo, and the third China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Monday and Tuesday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2006)