Jiang said when meeting with Lao Defense Minister Duoangchay Pichit and his party that peace and development remained the main themes at the present era even though factors breeding instability and uncertainty were on the rise.

Only by increasing international cooperation could the challenges to global security be effectively tackled, he said.

He praised Sino-Lao ties, saying they had "withstood the test of time."

Both China and Laos were developing countries that followed the socialist path so they shared extensive common interests and enjoyed bright prospects for future cooperation, Jiang said.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and the Lao government should work for long-term, stable, good-neighborly tiesbased on all-round cooperation and mutual trust in the new century, he said.

Jiang also briefed the Lao guests on the 16th CPC National Congress convened a month ago. The congress had elected a new CPC leadership and Hu Jintao as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. All CPC members and people from all ethnic groups were striving to carry out the spirit of the congress and achieve the goals the congress had set.

Duoangchay conveyed messages from LPRP Central Committee President and Lao President Khamtay Siphandone and extended congratulations on the success of the 16th CPC National Congress.

He said that during his visit, defense ministry officials of the two countries had briefed each other on their latest developments. He believed the visit would boost friendly relations between the two parties, countries, armed forces and peoples.

He also thanked China for its long-term support and assistance to Laos and said Laos would continue to promote good-neighborly relations with China.

(People's Daily December 18, 2002)