China and Laos issued a joint press communique in Beijing?on Wednesday, in which the two countries vowed to further promote their comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

The joint press communique was issued on the sidelines of an official good-will China visit of Choummaly Saygnasone, Lao president and secretary-general of the Laos People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee. As guest of his counterpart Hu Jintao, Choummaly met with several Chinese senior leaders including Hu, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping.

The state leaders held in-depth discussions on consolidation of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern, and achieved broad consensus. The successful visit will contribute to the development of China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, the joint press communique said.

It said the consolidation and development of the partnership accords with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and will be conducive to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

According to the joint press communique, the two sides will continue to maintain close high-level contacts and visits, and strengthen strategic communication on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

The two countries will seriously implement cooperation agreements they have signed and expand substantial cooperation in all areas. They will strengthen long-term planning and coordination on cooperation.

China will continue to provide economic assistance for Laos' national construction, and support and encourage Chinese companies to participate in, according to the principle of equality and reciprocity, Laos' infrastructure construction projects.

The two countries will make use of favorable conditions of the free trade zone between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to expand bilateral trade, and will encourage their companies to enlarge two-way investment and strengthen cooperation in labor contracting.

The two countries will conduct long-term reciprocal cooperation in such areas including agriculture, mining, hydropower, energy, communication, satellites, poverty alleviation, tourism, environmental protection and human resources development.

The two countries will make full use of the advantages of the neighboring provinces and regions, and strengthen local exchanges and cooperation, especially in trade, the communique said.

Since this year marks the 50th anniversary of ties, the two sides will take it as an opportunity to further enhance exchanges between political parties, governments, legislative bodies, unions, youth and women organizations and localities, as well as cooperation in culture, education, technology, sports and health.

The two ruling parties also agreed to make better use of party-to-party exchanges and cooperation, continue to hold seminars to learn from each other's experience in national administration and party building, and increase cadres exchanges.

The two sides will further enhance cooperation in national defense, public security and judiciary, so as to safeguard state security and maintain regional peace and stability, the joint press communique said.

As for their relations within some multilateral frameworks, China and Laos will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation within 10+1 (ASEAN plus China), 10 plus 3 (ASEAN plus China, ROK and Japan), east Asian Summit, Greater Mekong Sub-regional Cooperation and the United Nations, and will jointly endeavor for regional and the world's peace, stability and development.

The joint press communique said China actively supports Laos to host the Ninth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) at the end of next year, and supports it to join the World Trade Organization as early as possible.

China reaffirmed its respect for Laos' independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its support for Laos' principled overall reform in line with socialism and Laos' efforts to develop economy and maintain social stability.

Laos said it will firmly abide by the one-China policy, recognize the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate one representing China, Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Laos will also continue to support a peaceful development of Cross-strait relations and China's peaceful reunification.

The joint press communique said Choummaly invited Hu to visit Laos, and Hu said he is willing to visit when convenient for both sides.