China and Laos Look to Deepen Trade & Investment Ties
China and Laos have pledged to deepen economic cooperation, with trade, mineral development and regional connectivity high on the agenda following talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Beijing on November 3.
Wang said both countries should make better use of the Joint Committee for China-Laos Economic Corridor Cooperation and accelerate development of the China-Laos Railway, alongside closer collaboration in trade, minerals and other economic sectors.
The discussions come as bilateral economic ties continue to expand. Trade between the two countries reached approximately US$9.82 billion in 2025, an increase of 19.3 per cent from the previous year, according to China's Foreign Ministry.
China is also Laos' largest foreign investor, with cumulative investment exceeding US$18 billion across more than 900 projects. Key investment areas include hydropower, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and services.
Transport connectivity remains central to the partnership. Since opening in December 2021, the China-Laos Railway has become an important trade corridor linking Kunming with Vientiane and providing access to wider Southeast Asian markets. By July 2026, it had transported more than 20 million tonnes of cross-border freight.
The two foreign ministers also discussed preparations for high-level exchanges and activities marking the Year of China-Laos Friendship, alongside stronger people-to-people exchanges and coordination on regional and multilateral issues.
Wang said both sides should work towards delivering more tangible outcomes under their shared-future partnership, reinforcing economic cooperation and strategic ties between the neighbouring countries.
