From strategic trust to shared development: China-Laos ties enter a new stage

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith’s state visit to China from June 2 to 6 marked a historic milestone, elevating bilateral ties to an “all-weather China-Laos community with a shared future in the new era.” This updated positioning aims to strengthen political mutual trust, bolster security, and enhance economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation as China prepares its 15th Five-Year Plan and Laos advances its own development goals. Rooted in shared socialist values, the political relationship remains guided by close head-of-state diplomacy and inter-party exchanges. On the security front, the newly established “3+3” strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense, and public security will coordinate joint operations against non-traditional threats like online gambling, telecom fraud, and cross-border trafficking.
Economic and technological cooperation continues to expand through connectivity and innovation. The flagship China-Laos Railway project has achieved massive success, handling over 73 million passenger trips and facilitating over 80 billion yuan (about $11 billion) in import-export trade value, while creating more than 100,000 local jobs. Moving forward, cooperation is also targeting new quality productive forces, utilizing digital technology and artificial intelligence through regional innovation hubs. To solidify public support, the two nations are utilizing the Year of China-Laos Friendship to boost cultural translations, youth education exchange, and community-level healthcare assistance. Finally, China and Laos will tighten their strategic coordination within ASEAN, the UN, and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework, while pushing for a peaceful resolution and early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
Credit – CGTN