Luo Zhaohui meets with Lao Ambassador to China Khamphao Ernthavanh

Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), met with Lao Ambassador to China Khamphao Ernthavanh on April 9.

Luo said China and Laos are neighbors with traditional friendship. The China-Laos relations have stepped into a new era since the two heads of state agreed to jointly build a community with a shared future with strategic significance in 2017.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the two countries have supported and assisted each other in virus prevention and control and solidified their brotherly friendship. This year is the China-Laos Friendship Year, which also marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. China is willing to work together with Laos to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and steadily advance cooperation in bilateral aid and development work, jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality, and strive to yield more achievements in bilateral cooperation to bring tangible benefits to the people of the two countries, he said.

Khamphao congratulated Luo on assuming his new office and thanked China for the long-term support and aid to the economic and social development of Laos, especially the donation of urgently-needed anti-pandemic supplies and vaccine aid since last year, which has strongly helped Laos in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Laos is willing to work closely with China to deepen the pragmatic cooperation and push for better development of bilateral relations.

The two sides exchanged views on various issues concerning development cooperation.