Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Yan and Laos Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Khamlien Pholsena co-chaired the 1st Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone Joint Steering Council Meeting in the city of Kunming, Yuannan Province on May 14, 2018. The meeting reviewed and passed the work plan of Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone Joint Steering Council, listened to industrial work reports and panel reports of both sides and exchanged views on issues of common concern.

The Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone was an economic cooperation zone jointly established by China and Laos, it’s a major move for both sides to stick to the principles of “ long term stability, friendly neighbor, reliable friends and overall cooperation” and jointly dock the “Belt and Road” initiative with the strategy of Laos to transform itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked one. Witnessed by leaders of both sides, China and Laos jointly signed the General Plan for the Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone Construction and The Common General Development Plan of Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone (outline) in August 2018 and November 2016 respectively. The two sides established a joint steering council, and a work mechanism at three levels of central government, local government and management committee of cooperation zone. At the meeting, both sides agreed to jointly step up the cooperation zone’s construction under the steering council mechanism, make easier conditions for trade, investment and personnel exchanges, promote bilateral industrial cooperation and benefit the border regions and its people.