Xi meets Lao president

BEIJING - Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, met with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, in Beijing on Thursday.

Thongloun is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and a working visit.

Xi stressed that given the complex and profound changes in the international and regional landscape, the two sides need to view and approach China-Laos relations from a long-term and strategic perspective, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.

China is ready to deepen exchanges with Laos on experience in party and state governance, Xi said.

The two sides need to focus on the operation of the China-Laos Railway and development along the route to upgrade key projects, Xi said, adding that they should also deepen cooperation in defense, law enforcement and security, and other fields.

Thongloun said that the Laos-China relationship is now at its best in history, and Laos is ready to continue working with China to implement the new five-year action plan on building a Laos-China community with a shared future.

Laos fully supports the Global Governance Initiative proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping and stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on the international stage, Thongloun said.