Xi meets Bounnhang again on historic, fruitful visit to Laos

VIENTIANE -- Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Tuesday met again with his Lao counterpart, Bounnhang Vorachit, on jointly implementing the fruitful results of his historic visit to the Southeast Asian country.

It is the first visit in 11 years by a Chinese head of state and top Communist Party of China (CPC) leader to Laos.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, thanked Bounnhang, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos, for his warm hospitality and a special farewell meeting.

Despite a tight schedule, the visit has been very productive, said Xi.

The two sides have reached important consensuses on further consolidating and developing the China-Laos relations, and pushing forward comprehensive strategic cooperation.

Xi said that he and Bounnhang have agreed to jointly build a community of shared future with strategic significance, mapped out plans of strategies docking and win-win cooperation, and pointed out the direction for promoting traditional friendship and benefiting the general public.

Calling the visit a complete success, Xi expressed confidence in the prospect of bilateral ties.

He urged the two sides to comprehensively implement the results of the visit, with an emphasis on strategic guidance, strategies docking and public welfare, so as to strive for better development of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

Bounnhang, for his part, said Xi's historic and successful visit has lifted bilateral relations to a higher level and fully demonstrated the traditional friendship between the two countries.

The LPRP and the whole country are cheered up and inspired by the visit, bearing great expectation for the future of bilateral relations, said Bounnhang.

Laos is willing to join efforts with China to faithfully implement the fruitful results of the visit, and strive for bigger progress of bilateral cooperation in various fields, based on the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners, he said.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a deal to enhance cooperation under new circumstances between the two countries.

Xi bid farewell to Bounnhang after the signing ceremony.

The Chinese president wrapped up a productive Southeast Asian tour and left the Lao capital on Tuesday afternoon.

Vientiane is the final leg of Xi's first overseas trip after the 19th CPC National Congress, which was held last month in Beijing.

Prior to the Laos visit, he attended the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang and paid a state visit to the country.