Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Choummaly Saygnasone, secretary general of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, in Vientiane, Laos, June 16, 2010. (Xinhua Photo)

Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with Choummaly Saygnasone, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in Vientiane on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Xi said China is pleased to see the great social and economic development achieved by Laos in the innovation and open-up cause in the past nearly two decades. China will continue to support Laos in promoting economic development and safeguarding national stability.

Xi said bilateral relations have developed in the guidelines of lasting stability, good-neighborliness and friendship, mutual trust and cooperation in an all-round manner.

Xi said China and Laos have maintained close contacts, strengthened political mutual trust, deepened economic and trade cooperation and increased exchanges in all areas over the past years.

Xi said China and Laos decided to establish comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership last year, which pushed bilateral relations to the highest level in history.

Xi said China cherishes the traditional friendship with Laos, and China is ready to join hands with Laos to enrich comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and enhance the bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Choummaly spoke highly of Xi's visit to Laos, saying it is a great encouragement to the Lao party, government and people.

Choummaly said the decision to lift bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership last year during his visit to China is of significant importance to bilateral relations.

Choummaly said Laos attaches great importance to relations with China, and Lao is ready to push forward bilateral relations and consolidate traditional friendship with China.