Day: March 20, 2023

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Russian-Chinese relations remain strong as tested by time, says Xi Jinping

Throughout history, they have experienced difficult periods, said the Chinese leader

(KPL/TASS). Russian-Chinese relations went through tough periods throughout their history, but they had eventually proved to be strong, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said in an interview with Russia’s Rossiyskaya gazeta daily.

“At the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, I will soon pay a state visit to the Russian Federation. Russia was the first country I visited after I was elected President 10 years ago,” Xi Jinping said in the article published ahead of his visit to Russia.

“Over the past decade, I have made eight visits to Russia,” he continued. “I came each time with high expectations and returned with fruitful results, opening a new chapter for China-Russia relations together with President Putin.”

“Looking back on the extraordinary journey of China-Russia relations over the past 70 years and more, we feel strongly that our relationship has not reached easily where it is today, and that our friendship is growing steadily and must be cherished by us all,” Xi Jinping said in the article published ahead of his visit to Russia.

“China and Russia have found a right path of state-to-state interactions,” Xi stated. “This is essential for the relationship to stand the test of changing international circumstances, a lesson borne out by both history and reality.”

“My upcoming visit to Russia will be a journey of friendship, cooperation and peace. I look forward to working with President Putin to jointly adopt a new vision, a new blueprint and new measures for the growth of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the years to come,” the Chinese president said.

“To this end, our two sides need to enhance coordination and planning. As we focus on our respective cause of development and rejuvenation, we should get creative in our thinking, create new opportunities and inject new impetus. It is important that we increase mutual trust and bring out the potential of bilateral cooperation to keep China-Russia relations at a high level,” Xi added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold negotiations in Moscow on March 21. Earlier, Moscow and Beijing announced that Xi Jinping would make an official visit to Russia on March 20-22. According to previous reports from the Kremlin, negotiations would feature discussions of “current issues of further development of relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China.”

The sides also planned to exchange opinions within the context of deepening Russian-Chinese cooperation on the international arena. They are also expected to sign a number of important bilateral documents.

Source: Lao News Agency

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ASEAN Political-Security Community convenes 15th coordinating conference

The 15th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (ASCCO) took place on March 15 via videoconference.

With the implementation of the ASEAN Political – Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025 having reached 99% implementation rate with two more years into its completion, Deputy Secretary-General for APSC Michael Tene, who chaired the conference, encouraged all sectoral bodies and entities to further their respective efforts to reach the full implementation of the blueprint.

At the conference, as in previous years, APSC sectoral bodies and entities associated with the APSC pillar exchanged views and provided updates on each other’s work regarding the implementation of the APSC blueprint.

While ASCCO is a regular platform for promoting cross-sectoral cooperation among sectors of the APSC pillar as well as associated entities, this year’s conference likewise served as a venue to exchange views on the future of ASEAN. The exchange provided valuable inputs towards the development of ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision.

According to participants to the videoconference, ASEAN’s external relations are becoming more robust with the addition of new formal partners, enhancement of several dialogue partnerships to comprehensive strategic partnerships, and the increasing number of countries acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).

The participants were also updated about Timor-Leste’s observer status and its participation in ASEAN meetings and activities in the coming time.

Source: Lao News Agency

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President Kaysone Phomvihane’s monument construction kicks off

The Ministry of Public Security held last week a groundbreaking ceremony for beloved President Kaysone Phomvihane’s monument construction project in Xaythany district, Vientiane.

The project will involve the installation of a bronze statue of President Kaysone Phomvihane, 7.5 m tall, cast by talented and experienced fine artists.

The casting of President Kaysone Phomvihane’s statue is expected to be completed by the end of June, 2023, then the statute will be installed in front of the main building of the Political Academy of Public Security Forces which is under construction.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Laos, China sign an agreement on clean agriculture cooperation

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has signed with Meixiang Agriculture Development a Memorandum of Understanding on a clean agriculture development project worth US$79 million.

The agreement was signed in Vientiane on March 17 by Director General of the Agriculture Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Bounchan Kombounsith, and President of the Meixiang Agriculture Development Co., Ltd Erwei.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Phet Phomphiphak and relevant officials witnessed the signing ceremony.

Under the agreement, the cooperation project will be implemented in Vientiane and other provinces located along the Laos-China railway involving the production of agricultural produce that meets clean agriculture standards and the installation of solar power generation facilities to produce solar power for agricultural production.

“The project also aims to equip local agricultural staff and farmers with techniques on clean agriculture and build modern greenhouses to promote agricultural production for domestic consumption and export to China,” said Deputy Director General of the Agriculture Department Vanthieng Phommasoulin.

Today, clean agriculture production is in high demand, so the project will help promote modern production solutions that meet clean agriculture standards for domestic consumption and exports.

“As for the next step, the agriculture department will work with the company to plan detailed activities of the project, including building modern greenhouses, infrastructure, equipment and machinery, and organize training on modern and clean agriculture for provincial and district agricultural officials, entrepreneurs as well as farmers,” said Mr Vanthieng.

Source: Lao News Agency