Photo taken on May 15, 2018 shows the 2018 China-Laos Tourism Cooperation Forum held in Lao capital Vientiane. The 2018 China-Laos Tourism Cooperation Forum and the Beautiful China Tourism Promotion Conference was held in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun)

VIENTIANE, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 China-Laos Tourism Cooperation Forum and the Beautiful China Tourism Promotion Conference was held in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday.

When addressing the forum, Bosengkham Vongdara, the Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, said that with the developing of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Laos and China, the transportation routes connecting the two countries are increasingly convenient. The exchanges and cooperation in tourism have been carried out smoothly, and the scale of tourist exchanges expanded year by year.

This year is also the "Visit Laos Year", and the country has been organizing various celebration activities, Bosengkham said, adding that Laos welcomes more Chinese tourists, so as to continuously strengthen tourism exchanges and cooperation with China.

Du Jiang, head of the visiting Chinese tourism delegation and a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) central committee, said in his speech that the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Laos has entered a new era, and the bilateral cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation are embracing new opportunities.

Du Jiang also introduced China's economic and social development and the latest development of Chinese tourism market. He warmly welcomed Lao tourists to visit the Beautiful China.

In his addressing speech, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Wang Wentian highly appreciated the powerful momentum of the friendly cooperation between China and Laos.

He said enhancing the people exchanges and deepen the peoples' communication and understanding is necessary for bilateral friendship, and is the common willingness of both sides.