Beijing (VNA) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for closercooperation with Laos in key areas such as traffic infrastructure, agriculture,education, and tourism at a meeting with Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit inBeijing on May 31.

He said China and Laos are friendly neighbours. The fruitful talks held on May30 between the two countries’ leaders lifted the bilateral ties to a new level,he was quoted by Xinhua.

China is willing to consolidate the long-standing friendship between the twopolitical parties and build the shared future on the basis of mutual respectand support, the Premier said.

For his part, Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit spoke highly of the long-termsupport China had provided for Laos.

As a comprehensive strategic partner of China, Laos is ready to further advancethe win-win cooperation with China in the fields of infrastructure,agriculture, education and health care as well as people-to-people exchanges.

On May 31, Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the PoliticalBureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary ofthe CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, met with the LaoPresident.

The two sides agreed to enhance communication and cooperation inanti-corruption.-VNA