On November 12, 2022 local time, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh who is attending the Leaders' Meetings on East Asia Cooperation in Phnom Penh.

Li Keqiang said that connected by the same mountains and rivers, China and Laos have long enjoyed good-neighborly friendship. China stands ready to work with Laos to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, and deepen practical cooperation, to promote greater progress in bilateral relations.

Li Keqiang noted that China will step up exchanges and mutual learning with Laos to enhance the internal impetus for closer cooperation. China is ready to carry out wind, solar, and other clean energy cooperation with Laos, advance facilitation of customs clearance, expand the import of competitive agricultural products from Laos, and boost people-to-people exchanges between the two sides. China welcomes the Lao students to return to China and resume studies according to their wishes. The Chinese side is also ready to continue to provide as much help and support as it can for Laos’ effort to improve people’s livelihood.

Phankham said that the Laos-China relations have constantly deepened, and bilateral strategic common understanding has been effectively implemented with fruitful outcomes. Laos firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, and stands ready to have closer exchanges with China at all levels, deepen exchanges of experience in governance, strengthen cooperation in areas like economy, trade, energy, and agriculture, and give full play to the positive effects of the Laos-China Railway, so as to promote new development in bilateral relations.

Xiao Jie was present at the meeting.