Visit Laos-China Year 2019 officially launched

The governments of Laos and China on Friday officially launched Visit Laos-China Year 2019 in the Lao capital of Vientiane.
President Bounnhang Vorachit and Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulatory messages to each other hailing the joint tourism promotion.
Laos’ Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, and China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Luo Shugang, delivered the messages from the two presidents at the launch ceremony held at the National Culture Hall.
In the message delivered by Prof. Dr Bosengkham, President Bounnhang, who is also Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, on behalf of the Party and government of the Lao PDR and on his own behalf expressed his delight over Visit Laos-China Year 2019.

President Bounnhang said the joint hosting of Visit Laos-China Year reflected the sound longstanding relations and cooperation between the two neighbours in the spirit of their comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership.
This cooperation has been strengthened in line with the “four good” directions - good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners, he said.
“The launch of Visit Laos-China Year 2019 is an important activity in enhancing friendly relations and mutual understanding among the peoples of our two countries,” Minister Bosengkham read.
The Lao president said the Lao and Chinese peoples have enjoyed reciprocal visits and have extended mutual assistance since ancient times. 
 “I am delighted to note that these firm traditional relations have been enhanced over the past 58 years of diplomatic relations,” Dr Bosengkham read in the presence of hundreds of people.
The Lao president said the year 2019 was particularly significant because it was the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership between Laos and China. And both sides are joining hands to build a community of a shared future for Laos and China.
The president said the Party and government of Laos attached great importance to tourism and opening-up for external cooperation in the tourism industry. 
He expressed hope that through Visit Laos-China Year 2019, visitors from across the world would come to Laos and China to experience their natural, cultural and historical identities.
In his message delivered by Minister Luo, President Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, on behalf of the government and people of China and on his own behalf expressed warm congratulations on the launch of Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
The Chinese leader hailed the growing ties and cooperation between Laos and China over the past 58 years, saying China regarded Laos as a good neighbour, good friend, good comrade and good partner.
China is pleased to continue cooperation with Laos to enhance strategic development integration and the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership, President Xi said in his message.
He expressed hope that Visit Laos-China Year 2019 would encourage more people-to-people exchanges through visits and increase cultural exchanges to deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples. This would contribute to building a community of a shared future.
“We will encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Laos and we welcome Lao brothers and friends to visit China,” Minister Luo read from President Xi’s message, which was translated by an interpreter.The two presidents wished the Visit Laos-China Year 2019 campaign great success.
Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone announced the start of Visit Laos-China Year 2019 and struck a gong nine times as an auspicious gesture for the launch. 
The launch also featured cultural and traditional performances by troupes from the two countries, which greatly impressed the watching audience at the grand hall. Vientiane Mayor Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, Minister of Industry and Commerce Khemmani Pholsena, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong and invited guests attended the launch ceremony.
The launch of Visit Laos-China Year 2019 aims to draw more tourists to both countries. Laos especially hopes to welcome more Chinese visitors. In 2018, 805,833 Chinese tourists came to Laos, an increase of 26 percent compared to 2017.

BySouksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update January 28, 2019)