2024 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Laos, the construction of the China-Laos community with a shared future has been expanding and deepening, and cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results.
There were frequent high-level visits between China and Laos. In January, Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, Politburo Member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) , made an offficial visit to China.Zhao Leji, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and Wang Huning, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) hold meetings with him separately. In April, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, hold talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, who made an official visit to China. In July, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a series of foreign ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation and paid an official visit to Laos, hold meetings with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Lao president, and Sonexay Siphandone, Lao Prime Minister, hold talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and attend a trilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in Vientiane, Laos, which was chaired by Saleumxay. In October, Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended a series of leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation and paid an official visit to Laos,.Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP)Central Committee and Lao President, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and President of the National Assembly of Laos Saysomphone Phomvihaneheld hold meetings and talks with him in Vientiane, Laos. During the visit, the two sides issued the "Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Lao People's Democratic Republic". Also In October, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese president, met with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, in Kazan,Russia. In November, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone attended the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit in Kunming, Yunnan, and visited Zhejiang and Shanghai.
Economic and trade cooperation between China and Laos developed smoothly and Bilateral trade continued to grow rapidly. At present, China is Laos' largest investor, exporter and second largest trading partner. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume was 8.23 billion dollars, a year-on-year increase of 15.9%. Among them, our exports were 3.675 billion dollars, a year-on-year increase of 9.8%; imports were 4.555 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21.4%. China offers support and help to Laos within its capacity. In October, the building of the Mahoso General Hospital in Laos, which was assisted by the Chinese government, was completed. The passenger and freight volume of the China-Laos Railway continued to grow. In 2024, a total of 19.11 million passengers were sent (including more than 301,000 cross-border passengers), a year-on-year increase of 15.2%; 19.64 million tons of goods were transported (including 4.78 million tons of cross-border goods), a year-on-year increase of 10.6%.
The CPC and LPRP worked more closely in the training of officials and theoretical discussions. In December, the CPC and LPRP hold 12th theory seminar in Xi'an. The exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture, education, health, transportation, etc. have developed rapidly, the friendly exchanges and practical cooperation at the provincial (regional) level have become closer, and 5 pairs of sister cities have been newly established.