On the evening of November 21 local time, Premier Li Keqiang met at the hotel where he stayed in Kuala Lumpur with Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong of Laos.

Li Keqiang warmly congratulated on the upcoming 40th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Li Keqiang expressed that China and Laos enjoy profound traditional friendship. China is willing to keep close high-level exchanges and strengthen strategic communication, solidarity and cooperation with Laos, so as to jointly push China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new height.

Li Keqiang pointed out that currently China-Laos cooperation is continuously yielding new and fruitful results. The cooperation in China-Laos railway is progressing smoothly, and recently the foundation stone laying ceremony will be held. The first satellite of Laos has been successfully launched in China. It is hoped that the two sides will make persistent efforts to push cooperation in such infrastructure construction fields as economic cooperation zone, expressways and railways for new progress, and forge exemplary projects for regional connectivity.

Li Keqiang stressed that Laos, which will take over the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, is an important member of the newly-established Lancang-Mekong River cooperation mechanism. China is willing to enhance cooperation with Laos to promote China-ASEAN relations and Lancang-Mekong River cooperation for greater development, so as to better benefit people of China, Laos and other countries in the region.

Thongsing Thammavong expressed that Laos and China have long-lasting traditional friendship and close high-level exchanges. Their practical cooperation has made new progress and their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has developed in an in-depth way. Laos appreciates China's long-term support for Laos' economic and social development. During the rotating presidency of the ASEAN, Laos will actively promote the ASIAN-China exchanges and cooperation in such areas as connectivity, economy and trade, and people-to-people and cultural engagement. It is expected that Lancang-Mekong River cooperation will develop continuously.