This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Laos. It is also a crucial year for the two countries to build the China-Laos community with a shared future.

Foreseeing the development trend of China and the world, President Xi Jinping proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind in 2013. Laos responded positively to Xi's proposal. In the same year, President Xi put forward for the first time that China and Laos forge a community with a shared future. In 2016, the two sides stated in a joint statement that China and Laos are building a community with a shared future with strategic significance.

As friendly socialist neighbors, the two countries and peoples have supported each other during war and peace, and have created a model of peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit.

In 2019, the top leaders of the two ruling parties and the two countries signed an action plan to build the China-Laos community with a shared future, which not only provides guidance for the long-term development of China-Laos relations, but also opens a new era for China-Laos relations and demonstrate how to build a community with a shared future at the regional and international levels.

Given the international and regional situation and long-term bilateral relations, building a community of shared future between China and Laos is the strategic choice for both sides, as they share common values, outstanding political ties and a special friendship. At present, the two sides are exploring a new relationship between socialist countries on the basis of new international relations, jointly developing socialist undertakings with their respective characteristics, and implementing the construction of their community with a shared future.

First, the two countries need to enhance mutual respect and trust to consolidate the political foundation for a community with a shared future. The top leaders of the two parties and the two countries need to maintain the tradition of annual meetings and strengthen strategic communication on major issues of bilateral relations and the regional and international situations. We should build an all-dimensional, multi-tiered communication mechanism and promote cadre training cooperation to learn from each other. We need to strengthen coordination and cooperation in handling international and regional affairs, and support each other on issues involving the core interests of the other side.

Second, we need to continue win-win cooperation to tighten the bond of community. China and Laos have worked expeditiously to align China's Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy to transform itself from a landlocked to a land-linked country. As a major project of the Belt and Road Initiative, the construction of China-Laos railway has progressed smoothly, with 73.9 percent of its construction completed. The railway, which will be the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia, is expected to begin operating in 2021. The two sides have steadily implemented the cooperation framework of the China-Laos Economic Corridor. China has become Laos' second largest trading partner and the largest source of its foreign investment.

Third, we need to help each other, and safeguard the China-Laos community with a shared future. The two militaries have maintained exchanges at all levels and strengthened cooperation in personnel training, military training, political work and medical services. In 2018, after a hydropower dam collapsed in southern Laos, China's People's Liberation Army Peace Train medical team was the first international rescue team to arrive and help with relief work. In 2019, while the medical team was in Laos to participate in China-Laos joint rescue exercise, a serious bus accident happened in northern Laos. The medical team quickly transferred to respond to the emergency work, receiving much praise from local people. The two sides have also strengthened their law enforcement cooperation, joined hands to fight terrorism, and protected the lives and property of expats from the other country.

Fourth, we need to enhance people-to-people relations to solidify the foundation of the China-Laos community with a shared future. As of this year, the number of Lao students who have received Chinese government scholarships is more than 4,000, ranking among the top for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. By the end of 2018, there were 14,645 Lao students studying in China, ranking second among ASEAN countries and eighth among 196 countries and regions. The Chinese Cultural Center and the Confucius Institute at the National University of Laos have become a new platform for cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. 2019 is the China-Laos Year of Tourism, and the number of Chinese tourists is expected to achieve new breakthroughs.

Fifth, we need to enhance common governance to promote the sustainable development of the China-Laos community with a shared future. The two sides should promote cooperation on climate change, environmental monitoring, pollution control, resource protection, garbage disposal and environmental management capacity building. We can strengthen the discussion and exchange of ecological and environmental protection concepts and regulations, and improve the multilevel cooperation and dialogue mechanism for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief. China will help Laos achieve balanced economic, social and ecological development and upgrade Laos' ability to implement the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Building the China-Laos community with a shared future offers support for the two ruling parties to strengthen their communication. They should adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, develop nonaligned and nonconfrontational cooperation, not target any third party, and break away from an ideology-based mindset. It is important for the two sides to strengthen their coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our countries.

The two sides should also adhere to the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, promote the construction of an open world economy, and maintain the development and prosperity of the region and the world.

Standing at the new historical starting point of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, we are full of confidence and expectation for the future of China-Laos relations.

The author is Chinese ambassador to Laos.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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