Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith in Beijing, capital of China, April 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith in Beijing on Monday.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on both countries to work for steady progress in the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future, and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China is ready to work with Laos to make the China-Laos Railway more promising, continue to deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, jointly safeguard regional prosperity and stability, and push for new achievements in practical cooperation, Ding said.

For his part, Saleumxay thanked China for its support and assistance for Laos' economic and social development, adding that Laos firmly supports and actively participates in the major initiatives and concepts proposed by China.

Laos is ready to strengthen bilateral practical cooperation in various fields, build well a Laos-China community with a shared future, and promote the development of the cause of socialism, Saleumxay said.