An online communication and cooperation seminar between Guangxi and the Laos-China Cooperation Committee is held on June 14. [Photo by Lin Hao/China News Service]

An online communication and cooperation seminar between Guangxi and the Laos-China Cooperation Committee was held on June 14, discussing pressing issues related to trade and investment cooperation, poverty alleviation, cultural exchange and medical health.

Lao attendees of the event expressed their hope that Guangxi and Laos can open up more communication channels amid the normalization of COVID-19 pandemic response, bringing more benefits to people in both areas.

Shi Donglong, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that Guangxi and Laos share a deep friendship, and he has seen more cooperation in various sectors, yielding fruitful results in education and broadcasting & TV.

Shi noted that Guangxi is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with Laos in the post-pandemic era and make use of Nanning, the permanent host site of the China-ASEAN Expo, to expand digital economic cooperation. 

An official of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said that Guangxi has promoted the construction of two Laos-China agricultural cooperation demonstration zones, and Guangxi enterprises have made a $215 million investment deal with Laos. A series of banana planting bases, tropical fruit industrial parks and agricultural technique training and promotion bases have been built.

The official added that Guangxi will select more outstanding and high-quality agricultural species that are suitable for cultivation in Laos, taking advantage of opportunities brought about by the China-Laos Railway.