CIDCA chairman meets with new Lao ambassador to China

On Jan 9, 2024, Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), met with the newly-inaugurated Lao Ambassador to China Somphone Sichaleune.

Luo welcomed Somphone on his assumption of the new post in China, saying that China and Laos are friendly socialist neighbors linked by mountains and waters, and enjoy a community with a shared future embracing a special friendship of "comrades and brothers". In recent years, the top leaders of the two countries have met multiple times, reaching important consensus, which has charted the direction of bilateral development, Luo said. China is ready to work with Laos to jointly implement the key consensus reached between the two top leaders, promote the Belt and Road cooperation and the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, and strive for more pragmatic results that will benefit both countries and their people, he added.

Somphone extended appreciation to China for its long-term assistance and support for his country's social and economic development and the improvement of the people's livelihoods. Lauding the CIDCA's important role, he pledged to work closely with China to implement the 2024-2028 action plan between the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Communist Party of China on building a Laos-China community with a shared future, and to elevate Laos-China relations to a higher level.

The two sides also exchanged views on specific cooperation projects. Director-General of the CIDCA's Department of International Cooperation Xu Wei and Deputy Director-General of the CIDCA's First Department of Regional Affairs Wang Daohao also attended the meeting.