Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday said China encourages companies to increase investment in Laos, and will help Laos introduce its export commodities to China.

 

Wen made the remarks during a meeting with the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.

 

"China is highly concerned about Laos' development," Wen said, noting that China is ready to help Laos devise management training programs, to support the development of Laos' infrastructure, and to continue providing assistance to Laos for its social and economic development.

 

Wen said that with the joint efforts of both nations, China and Laos will achieve more fruits in bilateral cooperation in various fields, and the China-Laos relations would be lifted to a higher level.

 

Expressing satisfaction on the current development of China-Laos relations, Choummaly said Laos is ready to work with China to increase the mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, and to push for the development of traditional friendship between the two countries.

 

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong also met with Choummaly on Thursday, saying that to promote China-Laos friendly cooperative relations is an unwavering policy of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government.

 

China will join Laos to implement the important consensus reached by the Chinese and Lao top leaders to push for bilateral cooperation, and will be a good friend, good neighbor and good partner to Laos forever, Zeng noted.

 

Choummaly left the capital city for China's economic hub Shanghai on Thursday evening to continue his visit to China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2006)