Chinese vice premier vows cooperation with South Asian countries

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang addresses the opening ceremony of the fourth China-South Asia Exposition in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province, June 12, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

KUNMING -- Vice Premier Wang Yang stressed that China wants to enhance cooperation with Maldives, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos as he met with leaders of the South Asian countries on Sunday.

The leaders were attending the opening ceremony of the Fourth China-South Asia Exposition in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Wang told Maldives President Abdulla Yameen's special envoy Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, speaker of the People's Majlis, that China is willing to synergize the two countries' development strategies under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

China and Maldives can deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation, further promote negotiation on bilateral free trade agreement, push forward collaboration in infrastructure construction as well as boost tourism cooperation, according to Wang.

When meeting with Nepal's Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Wang stressed that China is willing to work with Nepal to steadily push forward bilateral cooperation in transport, free trade, inter-connectivity, energy and other areas.

Wang told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung that China stands ready to work with Vietnam to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, enhance strategic communication, promote cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, border trade, finance and other areas.

China wants a balanced and sustainable trade ties with Vietnam, said Wang, calling on the two neighbors to expand people-to-people exchanges.

When meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong, Wang called on both countries to maintain high-level contact, link development strategies, enhance cooperation in industrial capacity, infrastructure, agriculture, culture, education, health care, tourism and other fields.

Wang told Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone that both sides can strengthen high-level communication and exchanges of governing experience, push forward cooperation in industrial capacity, investment, economic cooperation zones, infrastructure and promote local-level ties.