The growth of Laos-China friendly relations
over the past five decades was celebrated on April 6 with the issue of a photo
album together with symbolic Lao-Chinese stamps and envelopes.
A
special ceremony took place in Vientiane to mark the 50th anniversary of
diplomatic ties (April 25, 1961-April 25, 2012) between the two neighbours.
Leaders
of the two countries hailed Laos and China as "good neighbours, good
friends, good comrades and good partners", and praised the fruitful
outcome of strengthening bilateral friendly relations.
Both
sides have maintained close contact over the years. During a goodwill visit to
Beijing last year, Lao President Choummaly Sayasone agreed with his Chinese
counterpart Hu Jintao's suggestion to raise the countries' bilateral
comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level by taking the
opportunity of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Speaking
at Friday's ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism
Savankhone Razmountry said “Over the five decades since the establishment of
diplomatic relations between Laos and China, bilateral solidarity, cooperation
and assistance have been growing and have become more fruitful.”
“This
has met the objectives of the two parties, states and peoples.”
He said
citizens of the two countries have maintained contact through people-to-people
exchanges since ancient times.
Friday's
ceremony was co-organised by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism,
the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, the Chinese Embassy to Laos, and
China's Cham Pa magazine.
Deputy
Minister of Post and Telecommunications Sithong Thongkeo, Vice President of the
Laos-China Friendship Association Lytou Bouapao, Vice President of the
Laos-China Cooperation Commission Khemmany Pholsena, Political Counselor of the
Chinese Embassy to Laos Wu Zhiwu and relevant officials from both sides
attended the ceremony.
Mr Wu
thanked the organisers of the ceremony and expressed the hope that bilateral
friendly relations are consolidated and become even more fruitful.
Last
year, numerous activities were held to mark the historic 50th anniversary,
including exchange visits by performance artists, film festivals, photo
exhibitions and exchange visits by the leaders of the two countries.
Mr
Savankhone said growing bilateral relations and cooperation have contributed to
national construction and development and encouraged better understanding
between the peoples of Laos and China.
The
album issued to celebrate the occasion features stories and photo captions that
reflect the growing bilateral friendly relations and cooperation, including
exchange visits made by each country's leaders.
After
being engaged in socio-economic development in Laos for decades, China now tops
the list of the three main foreign investors in Laos ahead of Vietnam and
Thailand.
Chinese
investors have poured investment capital into a wide range of areas, including
cash crops, industrial tree plantations, hydropower, mining, infrastructure
development, banking and services. Trade and investment cooperation between
Laos and China has been growing each year.
Two way
trade value reached US$1.05 billion in 2010, a 46.3 per cent increase compared
to the previous year, according to a government report. In 2011, trade value
rose to US$1.28 billion, a 22.7 per cent increase from the year before.
Beijing
has assisted Laos with the development of human resources through scholarships
provided to Vientiane. More than 1,000 Lao students and officials are now
studying in China.
News
desk
Vientiane
Times
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com
No comments:
Post a Comment