The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, Thongsavanh Phomvihane, will pay an official visit to China from March 12 to 15, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.
Thongsavanh Phomvihane is paying the visit at the invitation of Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and minister of foreign affairs.
Detailing Thongsavanh Phomvihane’s upcoming visit at a regular press briefing, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said this is Thongsavanh Phomvihane’s first visit to China since taking office, and he is also the first foreign minister to visit China after the country’s “Two Sessions,” showcasing that both sides attach great importance to China-Laos relations.
During the visit, Wang will hold talks with Thongsavanh Phomvihane, and they will exchange views on implementing the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries and strengthening bilateral and multilateral strategic cooperation, Mao said.
China has been the largest source of foreign investment and exporter for Laos, she said, adding that the passenger and freight volume of the China-Laos Railway has continued to grow, and cross-border freight transportation has covered 19 countries and regions, becoming the “golden channel” of the Indo-China Peninsula.
Through the visit, China looks forward to pushing the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future in a deeper and more practical way, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, and making positive contributions to world and regional peace, stability and development, she said.