Li's tour significant to East Asia integrity, China-Laos partnership: ambassador

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Vientiane to start his first official visit to Laos on Sept 6, 2016. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

VIENTIANE - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming tour to Laos will significantly enhance relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Chinese ambassador to Laos said here on Monday.

During his stay in Laos on Sept 6-9, Li will attend the 11th East Asia Summit in Vientiane and pay an official visit to Laos.

Guan Huabing, Chinese ambassador to Laos, told Xinhua in a recent interview that since this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-Laos diplomatic ties and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN dialogue relationship, Li's visit is expected to push forward regional integration in East Asia.

Prior to his official visit to Laos, the Chinese premier will arrive at Vientiane on Tuesday to attend the 19th China-ASEAN Summit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relationship, the 19th ASEAN Plus Three (China, South Korea and Japan) Summit and the 11th East Asia Summit.

Guan said that as neighbors with close culture relations, intervolving interests and common destiny, China and ASEAN in the past 25 years have developed their dialogue relationship into the most dynamic one among all dialogue relationships of ASEAN.