Lao Leaders Meet Chinese Vice Premier in Vientiane VIENTIANE (Oct. 26) XINHUA - Lao Prime Minister Khamtay Siphandone and President Nouhak Phoumsavanh had separate meetings with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wu Bangguo here Saturday. They expressed readiness to advance the bilateral relations in the political, economic, trade, cultural and other fields. Khamtay Siphandone, who is also chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, said that China had made tremendous achievements in economic construction from which Laos can learn. Laos is rich in resources and lacks technology and funds. Laos and China can increase cooperation by tapping their respective advantages to deepen their friendly relations and score new results in their economic and trade cooperation. Wu Bangguo said that China and Laos have enhanced their friendly cooperation in various fields in recent years and there exist a solid foundation and broad prospects for greater and deeper cooperation. He said that the Chinese government regards the development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation as a key part in the increase in the good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries. The Chinese government will further encourage Chinese enterprises and localities to take an active part in economic, trade and technological cooperation with Laos, he added. At a separate meeting, Lao President Nouhak Phoumsavanh told Wu that Laos and China are friends and brothers and the frequent contacts and consultations between leaders of the two countries on issues of common concern are conducive to mutual understanding and trust and to the development and consolidation of the friendly ties between the two countries. He called on entrepreneurs of the two countries to have more exchanges and asked more Chinese companies to contract for projects in Laos. Wu said that the Chinese and Lao peoples have been good friends living in harmony for generations. Between them there are neither issues left over from history nor disputes at present; there is every reason for them to carry out effective and fruitful cooperation in all fields. The Chinese vice premier arrived in Vientiane from Vietnam Saturday and is scheduled to leave for Myanmar Monday. Chinese, Lao Vice Premiers Hold Talks in Vientiane VIENTIANE (Oct. 26) XINHUA - Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wu Bangui held talks with Lao Deputy Premier Minister Boungnang Volachit here today. Wu, who arrived here Saturday, said at the talks that both China and Laos face the task of developing the economy and that China is willing to make joint efforts with the Lao side to enhance friendly cooperation in various fields to promote the all-round development of the Sino-Lao relations. He said that recent years saw a steady increase in the volume of bilateral trade and in the areas of cooperation. The two economies are highly complementary and there are potentials for bilateral trade and economic cooperation. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Laos in the fields of trade, investment and contracting of projects, so as to push the bilateral economic ties to a new height, he added. Boungnang extended his congratulations to the successful convocation of the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the smooth return of Hong Kong to China. he said that Laos is firm in following the one China policy and wished for China's reunification at an early date. He spoke highly of China's economic achievements and its increasing role in international affairs. He said that the Lao government is willing to explore new forms of long-term cooperation with China and work out concrete plans to develop bilateral trade and economic cooperation in a more comprehensive, deeper and more fruitful manner. After the talks, the two sides signed an agreement under which the Chinese government will provide a preferential loan to the Lao government. Wu Bangguo arrived in Vientiane from Vietnam Saturday as the guest of Boungnang Volachit and is scheduled to leave here for Myanmar Monday. BKK Post / 26 October 1997 BORDER Laos agrees to free six Thais today Vientiane does not want compensation By Theerawat Khamthita in Chiang Rai The five Thai immigration officials and a janitor arrested by Laotian authorities early this month may be released today following negotiations in Huay Sai yesterday. Pol Lt-Col Thajutha Somprasong, deputy chief of Pak Khad district of Nong Khai, said he travelled from Chiang Khong to Huay Sai in Bokeo province and met Soukan Maharath, the Laotian provincial governor, to discuss their release. The officer said he was given the assignment by police chief Gen Pracha Promnok because he knows Mr Soukan. Pol Lt-Col Alou, the Bokeo police chief, was also present during the talks. Mr Soukan agreed to release the Thais for the sake of Thai-Lao relations. The Lao authorities would not insist on compensation but would leave it to the Thai authorities to consider, said Pol Lt-Col Thajutha. He said the Thais will be released at 9 a.m. at a Mekong river boat landing. But he did not say whether the handover would be made in Chiang Khong or on the Huay Sai side of the river. Governor Vicharn Chanyanan discussed the matter with Immigration Police Bureau commissioner, Pol Lt-Gen Chidchai Wansathit, at a hotel in Chiang Rai town yesterday. They said they would go to Chiang Khong this morning. The Thais - five immigration police and a janitor attached to the immigration police unit at Chiang Saen - were seized on October 7 when six Laotian vessels allegedly carrying contraband were intercepted by two Thai naval vessels on the Mae Kok river after an exchange of fire. However, while they were being escorted to the Mekong patrol station in Chiang Saen four of the vessels broke away and sped to Laotian territorial waters with the six Thais on board. They have since been detained in Bokeo on charges of violating territorial waters. The two other Laotian boats were seized by Thai authorities and their crewmen arrested. Laotian authorities say two crewmen are missing and were believed to have been killed in the shooting. They want compensation for the missing men and the two boats. The six Thais are Pol Capt Sukhet Vetchayanon, assistant police inspectors with the Chiang Saen immigration police unit, Decha Thiamphat, Manee Oosplaymanon, Sompol Watanachan and Somchai Prangprempree, and Thawee Kaew, a janitor attached to the immigration police unit.