Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh in Vientiane, Laos, June 16, 2010. (Xinhua Photo)

Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said in Lao capital city of Vientiane on Wednesday China's economic cooperation with Laos is promising, urging both sides to take more concrete measures to boost it.

Xi, who was in Vientiane for an official visit, made the call in a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, saying that the Chinese side is willing to expand the scope and scale of bilateral trade and economic cooperation based on the principles of seeking mutual benefit and common development.

Xi put forward a series of proposals in this regard, like more policy orientation, expanding cooperation fields to finance and high-tech sectors and increasing transportation infrastructure construction.

As the China-ASEAN free trade zone is taking shape, China and Laos should make full use of geographical advantages to boost trade, he said.

Earlier in the day, the Chinese delegation and the Lao side signed a total of 18 cooperation pacts covering assistance and cooperation on a wide range of fields, including trade, infrastructure construction, finance and power generation and grid renovation.

Later in the day, the Chinese Vice President will leave Laos for New Zealand to continue his four-nation trip, which has already taken him to Bangladesh.