By Zhang Maorong, World Economy Institute of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations; cartoon drawings by Liao Tingting

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, paid a state visit to Laos on Nov. 13-14, and he had been accorded a warm welcome. During the visit, Xi held talks with Bounnhang Vorachit, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos, and exchanged in-depth views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern. The two leaders had mapped out a blueprint and charted the direction for the two countries to build a community of a shared future with strategic importance, which are of far-reaching significance to future development of China-Laos ties.

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

Xi and the Lao leader had reached consensuses on carrying forward traditional friendship, expanding pragmatic cooperation, enhancing strategic communication and people-to-people exchanges. 

China and Laos also agreed to accelerate the synergy of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy "to transform itself from a land-locked to a land-linked country",  to facilitate the construction of China-Laos economic zones and to forge ahead with landmark projects such as the China-Laos railway. Xi and the Lao leaders had witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields.

Xi's visit has injected new impetus into and added a new chapter to the development of China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership in a new era and promoted the two countries to join hands to build a community of a shared future featuring mutual respect and trust, mutual support, mutual benefits and mutual learning.

Xi's visit to Laos has also set a new model for Beijing's comprehensive cooperation and good neighborly and friendly relations with its surrounding countries.

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