October 18, 2012 Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), met with a delegation of academies of the Lao People’s Army (LPA) headed by Brigadier Thongloi, president of the National Defense College of the LPA, in Beijing on October 17, 2012.
Ma Xiaotian said that China and Laos are close and friendly neighbors, and China attaches great importance to developing relations with Laos. The China-Laos relationship has witnessed in recent years frequent exchanges of visits by high-ranking officials of the two countries and constantly deepened mutual political trust as well as good communication and coordination in international and regional affairs.
The relations between the Chinese and Lao militaries have well developed over the years as evidenced by fruitful cooperation in various fields.
The Chinese PLA is willing to make joint efforts with the Lao side to further strengthen the pragmatic cooperation in various fields including exchanges among military academies, so as to promote the relations between the two militaries to a new high, Mao Xiaotian told the guests.
Thongloi said the Laos is grateful to China for its long-term strong support and assistance to the development of Laos and its military.
The Lao side speaks highly of the long-term close cooperation between the Lao and Chinese military academies, Thongloi said.
The Lao LPA greatly cherishes Laos-China traditional friendship, attaches importance to developing relations with the Chinese PLA and hopes to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side to further promote the relations between the two militaries to a new high. (PLA Daily)
