On November 26, invited by the ASEAN-China Center (ACC), Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune of the Lao PDR (as the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2024) to China and the delegation visited Sichuan University (SCU) and gave a series of lectures on “China-ASEAN relations”. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC participated in the event.

Zhao Changsheng, Vice President of SCU, met the guests in Mingde Building, Wangjiang campus. Embassy of Laos in China, ACC and other heads of related units at SCU attended the meeting.

Zhao, on behalf of SCU, extended a warm welcome and introduced SCU briefly. He pointed out, upholding opening-up of education, that SCU has dedicated to promoting international exchange and cooperation. The university looks forward to deepening collaboration in education, science and technology as well as people-to-people exchanges with Laos to cultivate more talents for two countries and contribute to building China-Laos community with a shared future.

Ambassador Somphone expressed his gratitude to SCU and outlined the cooperation between China and Laos. He highlighted that SCU has a long history with fruitful educational achievements. China-Laos relations are at their best in history at present. He believed, as close neighbors and good partners, two parties would further enhance bilateral communication and cooperation in education and culture. The Embassy of Laos in China has committed to fostering collaboration in education and talents cultivation between Laos universities and SCU.

After the meeting, Ambassador Somphone delivered a keynote speech on “Laos-China Community with a Shared Future”. Then he interacted with students from Laos, learning about their life in SCU. He encouraged the students to work hard so as to make greater contributions for China-Laos cooperation.