International Desk: Lao President and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People`s Revolutionary Party, Thongloun Sisoulith, has expressed optimism about the future of China-Laos relations, saying the long-standing friendship between the two countries will continue to deepen in the years ahead.

In an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG), Thongloun said cooperation between the two nations would expand further at both the state and party levels.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Thongloun arrived in Hangzhou, capital of east China`s Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday for a five-day state visit. Speaking on the second day of his trip, he voiced confidence about the prospects for bilateral ties.

He noted that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos, as well as the China-Laos Friendship Year. Since the founding of the Lao People`s Democratic Republic, relations between the two countries have grown steadily stronger, and he expressed hope that the partnership would reach even greater depths in the future.

Recalling the long history of friendship and neighbourly cooperation between the two nations, Thongloun highlighted China`s support for war-torn Laos during the 1960s. He specifically mentioned the "67 School" established in Nanning, in China`s Guangxi region, where more than 500 Lao students received education. Thongloun himself served there as a teacher during that period.

Information and Photo: CCTV