"Laos is a good neighbor, good friend, good comrade, and good partner of China." In an interview with our reporter, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Jiqiao said that in recent years, under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" and ASEAN China cooperation, Laos and China have continued to make new progress and achievements in cooperation in various fields, which has truly benefited the two peoples. In the future, "Laos China relations will be closer". As a landmark project of the high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" between the two countries, the China Laos Railway will be officially put into operation in December 2021. In the first half of this year, the China Laos railway has sent 10.07 million passengers, up 1.7% year on year; The total amount of goods transported along the entire line exceeded 12.6 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 25.9%, and the role of the "golden channel" is becoming increasingly prominent. Jiqiao stated that the Laos China Railway is an important achievement of pragmatic cooperation between the two sides. Since its opening, it has been an important channel for passenger and freight transportation between Laos and China, promoting regional economic and trade cooperation and driving accelerated economic development along the route. Jiqiao believes that the Laos China Railway not only promotes cooperation in trade, investment and other fields, but also facilitates the smooth implementation of large-scale cooperation projects in Laos. Thanks to the dividends released by the Laos China Railway, overseas investors have more confidence in Laos. The Laotian government, in cooperation with the World Bank and other partners, is studying and carrying out national highway projects connecting Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, as well as high-speed highway projects connecting the Laotian capital Vientiane with places such as Ganmeng and Bolikanese, "said Jiqiao. According to Jijo, Laos and China will also continue to develop Laos' 500kV/230kV Vientiane Ring Network Transmission and Transformation, Vientiane Saytha Comprehensive Development Zone, Laos China Boten Mohan Economic Cooperation Zone, Laos China Expressway Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV, and Laos Tanarang Dry Port to jointly build the "the Belt and Road" projects to meet the needs of economic and social development. "Laos is in a period of rapid development, and more Chinese enterprises are welcome to visit and invest in Laos to benefit the two peoples with closer Laos China cooperation," said Jijo. In May of this year, the Special Meeting of China ASEAN Economic and Trade Ministers was held online, and the economic and trade ministers of both sides jointly announced the comprehensive completion of the China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 negotiations. The ASEAN China Free Trade Area 3.0 version conforms to the trend of regional economic integration and will expand economic and trade exchanges and investment cooperation between ASEAN and China. "Jiqiao said that the ASEAN China Free Trade Area 3.0 version will further deepen cooperation between the two sides in areas such as supply chain integration, digital economy, and green economy. China has a vibrant and large-scale market that contributes to driving regional economic growth. In recent years, ASEAN and China have comprehensively and high-quality implemented the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and their economic and trade relations have steadily developed, becoming each other's largest trading partners. ”Jiqiao stated that the current global economic recovery is weak, and ASEAN countries, including Laos, should continue to deepen cooperation with China, benefit the people of both sides, and make greater contributions to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity. (New Society)