The Boao Forum for Asia Vientiane Conference was held at Vientiane Landmark Hotel on the 28th. After the opening ceremony, a seminar for Chinese and Lao entrepreneurs was held, chaired by Wu Xinghua, the Executive Vice President of the Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce. More than 100 entrepreneurs and business representatives from China and Laos attended the seminar.

Wu Xinghua said that with the initiative of “the Belt and Road” and the development of “Lancang River - Mekong River Cooperation”, the economic activities of China and Laos are increasing day by day. China’s investment in Laos continues to grow and the rapid increase in the number of Chinese enterprises in Laos has brought both tremendous development opportunities and corresponding challenges to Laos. He said that China and Laos still need to strengthen all-round cooperation in economy and trade and work hard to further forge a community with a shared future between China and Laos.

Entrepreneurs attending the exchange seminar came from various industries, such as finance, engineering construction, agriculture and electronic technology. At the seminar, entrepreneurs from China and Lao shared the development situation and future development plans of their respective enterprises, discussed the investment environment in Laos, and expressed their good wishes to seek for investment cooperation and development.

Leaders of Vientiane Branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Asia Pacific Satellite, China-Laos Railway, Huawei and other enterprises who have been deeply engaged in business in Laos for many years have shared their investment experiences and achievements in Laos. The economic and trade cooperation between China and Laos is getting closer and closer, and the opportunities for development are increasing. In the past ten years, the economic development of Laos has maintained a good momentum. The strong and noticeable economic growth has attracted attention from investors in various countries.

Lu Jian, the general manager of Vientiane Branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, said that since entering Laos in 2011, Vientiane Branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has strongly supported the financing needs of large-scale infrastructure construction in Laos such as electricity, telecommunications, minerals and railways. It provides a series of financial services such as foreign exchange settlement, international trade, guarantee business, internal guarantee and external loan in an all-round way to serve the economic and trade exchanges between China and Laos and promote the economic development of Laos, hoping to reach cooperation with more Chinese and Lao enterprises. Deng Lianghui, the representative of Asia Pacific Satellite, share the great convenience to Laos’ communications brought by China-Laos comprehensive exchanges and cooperation. Zhang Jilie, the Party member and deputy general manager of Dongfang Electric Group, stressed the importance of Lao’s investment environment to Chinese enterprises. Xu Guowu, the Chairman of Laos Xuanye Group, said that the “the Belt and Road” has provided more opportunities for the company’s further development in Laos. Representatives of China Railway No.2 Bureau and the Laos representatives of China Electric Power Construction also actively shared relevant experiences in the field of construction in Laos. (Source: Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce)