China and Laos agreed Sunday to work together on infrastructure and economic projects.

Premier Wen Jiabao and his Laos counterpart Bounyang Vorachit held talks and witnessed the signing of five agreements as part of an official visit.

Wen, who arrived Sunday, also met leaders of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

They are to attend Monday's summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as the group's meeting with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

With the signings Sunday, the China-Laos partnership moved one step forward. The agreements include deals on economic and technological co-operation as well as four exchanges of letters on helping Laos build roads, survey mineral resources, draft plans for comprehensive development in the north and build power projects.

Wen put forward four-point proposals for advancing bilateral ties, including the increase of high-level contacts between the two countries.

Describing Laos as "good neighbor, good friend, good partner and good comrade," Wen suggested that Laos should combine China's economic and technical assistance with its self-developing ability.

"This should become the new form and way for bilateral co-operation," said Wen.

Bounyang held out his hope that the two sides could strengthen co-operation in agriculture, science and technology, mineral resources, investment as well as infrastructure such as hydropower and telecommunications.

Premier Wen also met Sunday with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He told Indonesia's president that China is willing to increase co-operation. The two countries have reached the consensus to build a strategic partnership.

Wen said that the two countries should make efforts to expand trade to US$20 billion.

When meeting with Lee Hsien Loong, Wen said that Singapore's adherence to the one-China policy and its opposition to "Taiwan independence" has laid a stronger foundation for the advancement of bilateral relations.

Lee said that China and ASEAN are moving in the right direction to build a free trade area.

In his talks with Badawi, the two leaders touched on the topic of the South China Sea. Wen said that China is willing to push aside disputes and seek joint development of the region.

(China Daily November 29, 2004)