The Lao National Assembly and the Chinese National People's Congress needed to increase cooperation, President Thongsing Thammavong of the Lao National Assembly yesterday suggested to his Chinese counterpart.

Mr. Thongsing made the statement at a bilateral meeting in Vientiane with a Chinese delegation led by the congress's Standing Committee Vice Chairman Zhou Tienong.

The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the delegation's attendance at the 17th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, which is taking place in Vientiane from January 11-15.

According to a meeting note taker, the two legislative bodies (the assembly and the congress) should increase cooperation, including exchange visits at various levels between the two bodies and cooperation in legislative work.

Mr. Thongsing said he highly valued the delegation's participation in the forum. He said the participation of China boosted the consolidation of long-standing relations and cooperation between the two nations.

He said Laos had received support from many countries in hosting the meeting. Although shortcomings were inevitable, it was a good experience for Laos in hosting future international conferences.

Mr. Thongsing informed his guest that Lao Party and government leaders constantly supported the ‘one China policy'.

Through Mr Tienong, he thanked the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government and people for the support they had provided for the socio-economic development process in Laos.

Mr Thongsing informed his guest that Lao socio-economic development was constantly growing and people's living conditions were improving.

The Party and government, h e added, had focused on agricultural production along with the promotion and expansion of the service sector to encourage commercial agriculture.

Trade cooperation with neighbouring countries such as China, Vietnam and Thailand had fostered agricultural production, Mr. Thongsing said.

The note taker said Mr. Tienong expressed his gratitude for the hospitality provided to his delegation. He praised Laos's hosting of the forum and expressed his satisfaction that regular exchange visits between the two countries' high-ranking officials had consolidated relations and cooperation.

“China praises the positive image Laos has created, particularly progress in socio-economic development which has been driven by the renovation policy under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party,” he said.

Mr. Tienong conveyed warm greetings from the Congress Chairman to Mr. Thongsing and said he highly valued the close cooperation between the two bodies, especially in the field of law and inspection of government work.

Mr. Thongsing was invited to pay an official visit to the Congress, he said.