CEMENTING CONNECTIVITY

By Chang Xiang,Guo Xixian

High-level forum on Belt and Road connectivity and building a China-Laos community with a shared future held in Laos

A scene of the high-level forum titled “Our Common Pride: Belt and Road Connectivity and Building a China-Laos Community with a Shared Future.”

Ahigh-level forum titled“Our Common Pride: Belt and Road Connectivity and Building a China-Laos Community with a Shared Future” was held at the National University of Laos on November 6,2023.The forum was co-hosted by the Center for the Asia-Pacific under China International Communications Group(CICG Asia-Pacific),the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative,the National University of Laos,and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Laos.Nearly 300 people attended.Participants included leaders and representatives from the governments,think tanks,media,businesses,and universities of China,Laos,and Thailand.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)has profoundly changed the world over the past decade.As a global public good widely welcomed by the international community,the BRI has contributed to human society through Chinese wisdom.In October 2023,China and Laos signed a new five-year action plan for the development of a China-Laos community with a shared future.This plan laid out a blueprint for the future of China-Laos relations.

The participants reviewed the BRI achievements in connectivity involving China and Laos.They exchanged views on the significance of the China-Laos Railway for China’s high-standard opening-up in the new era and discussed the Asia-Pacific practice to realize the eight major steps China will take to support joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.They also encouraged young people from Laos and Thailand to take action to build the BRI and an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

Phinij Jarusombat,former deputy prime minister of Thailand,addressed the opening ceremony via video.He said that the BRI is full of vision and reflects China’s wisdom.High-quality Belt and Road cooperation has strengthened the connectivity of the Asia-Pacific countries and significantly enhanced trade and investment cooperation.This has promoted prosperity in the participating countries of the BRI,enabling their people to live a better life,according to his remarks.

Somsavat Lengsavad,former Lao deputy prime minister,stated that the China-Laos Railway has transformed Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked country,fulfilling the longheld aspirations of the Lao people.It embodies the wisdom and innovation of the Chinese people and constitutes an important part of building a China-Laos community with a shared future.As the first modern railway in Southeast Asia,the China-Laos Railway has not only provided a new driving force for Laos’ economic development but has also significantly promoted the development and prosperity of regions along the way.China and Laos will continue to work together to ensure the sound maintenance and operation of the railway,stimulate the development of regions along its route,and transform it into a golden route that benefits the people of both countries.

Wang Chang (left),Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Laos,gifts a copy of Xi Jinping,The Governance of China (Volume 4) to Somsavat Lengsavad (right),former Lao deputy prime minister.

Phinij Jarusombat,former deputy prime minister of Thailand,addresses the opening ceremony via video.

Gao Anming,vice president and editor-in-chief of CICG,delivers a video speech at the forum.

Round table forum themed “For a Shared Future: Building a Home of Mutual Assistance.”

A group photo of the participants of the forum.

In his video speech,Gao Anming,vice president and editor-in-chief of CICG,emphasized the immense strategic importance of establishing a China-Laos community with a shared future.He said that the world is currently experiencing significant transformation and turmoil with unprecedented changes unfolding at a fast pace.He pointed to enhancing people-to-people exchanges and expanding practical cooperation as important methods to deepen the China-Laos community with a shared future.This is also a common expectation of the people of both countries.He suggested China and Laos work together to promote media cooperation to share inspiring stories on both sides,strengthen exchanges between think tanks to learn from each other’s experience in governance,and enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust among young people to consolidate friendship between the two countries.

Wang Chang,Charge d’affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Lao PDR,said that the BRI has played a significant role in enhancing policy communication among nations,fostering global connectivity,reshaping the international trade landscape,and promoting global economic development,among other things.Laos was among the earliest countries to support the BRI and has signed many cooperation documents with China regarding the Belt and Road.High-quality achievements of the BRI such as the China-Laos Railway have attracted worldwide attention.The railway can be regarded as a pioneer and a demonstration of connectivity and mutual benefits.

Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee,director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative,opined that the concepts presented in the book Xi Jinping,The Governance of China are the most valuable public goods provided by China to developing countries.Deepening mutual learning of governance experiences will enhance high-quality cooperation among China,Laos,and Thailand,making the Lancang-Mekong region a community of shared future characterized by openness,inclusiveness,interconnectivity,and common development,he said.

Speakers from countries along the China-Laos-Thailand railway participated in discussions at a round table forum themed “For a Shared Future: Building a Home of Mutual Assistance.” Topics included BRI accomplishments over the decade,regional connectivity along the China-Laos-Thailand railway,China’s highstandard opening-up,and working together to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

At the end of the forum was a souvenir exchange activity.Wang Chang gifted a copy of Xi Jinping,The Governance of China (Volume 4)to Somsavat.Chang Xiang,chief of the Bangkok Bureau of CICG Asia-Pacific,also presented Xi Jinping,The Governance of China (Volume 4) to the National University of Laos.

As a global public good widely welcomed by the international community,the BRI has contributed to human society through Chinese wisdom.