An undated file photo shows the flags of China (right) and Sri Lanka. (PHOTO / VCG)

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Friday emphasized China’s readiness to work together with other countries for high-quality Belt and Road development when he met with leaders of several countries who are in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

He met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Noting that Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to jointly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and push for new progress in developing China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and lasting friendship.

China is willing to import more quality and specialty products from Sri Lanka, and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country, so as to help Sri Lanka transform and upgrade its economy and achieve sustainable development, Xi said.

Xi said China and Sri Lanka should strengthen collaboration on international and regional affairs, oppose politicization of the human rights issue and bloc confrontation, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and developing countries

China will continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka without any political strings attached and help the country cope with difficulties concerning its society and people's livelihood, he said, adding that China is glad to see Sri Lanka becoming a commercial center in the Indian Ocean.

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The two sides should strengthen collaboration on international and regional affairs, oppose politicization of the human rights issue and bloc confrontation, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and developing countries, Xi said.

Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka has attached great importance to and actively participated in the Belt and Road cooperation from the very beginning and has faith in its potential and prospects.

Noting the openness of the Indian Ocean, Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka is willing to enhance communication with China in regional affairs and promote solidarity and cooperation among developing countries.

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Senior Chinese officials Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the meeting.

With Vietnamese President

Xi met with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Beijing on the same day.

Noting that China and Vietnam have developed a deep friendship of "camaraderie and brotherhood," Xi said the two countries are both advancing their own socialist modernization cause, both regard the bilateral relationship as a priority in their respective foreign policy, and both see each other's development as opportunities for their own development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan welcome Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong before a banquet for distinguished guests attending the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in Beijing, China, Oct 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Facing a rapidly changing international landscape, the two countries should work together in following the path of socialism and building a community of a shared future with strategic significance, Xi said.

Thuong said the Vietnamese side is willing to intensify high-level strategic communication with China and continuously enrich the contents of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership under new circumstances

He called on China and Vietnam to pursue a path to prosperity and strength in line with their own national conditions, and strengthen cooperation in advancing the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan.

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The countries should also strengthen cooperation in emerging fields such as e-commerce, and should continue to make the bond between the people of China and Vietnam, particularly younger generations, even closer, Xi said.

Thuong said over the past decade, the Belt and Road has become a key high-quality international cooperation platform featuring openness and inclusiveness, and has boosted relevant countries' development and promoted the friendship between their peoples.

President Xi's speech at the opening ceremony of the forum expounded on strategic plans and concrete measures, which will greatly influence future international cooperation and global development, the Vietnamese president said.

READ MORE: Wang Yi meets officials from Sri Lanka, Laos, Nepal, Vietnam

Thuong said Vietnam always regards China's development as an opportunity and supports socialist China in further developing and realizing the goal of building itself into a great modern socialist country on schedule. Vietnam believes that China will make greater contributions to promoting world peace and development, he added.

The Vietnamese side is willing to intensify high-level strategic communication with China and continuously enrich the contents of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership under new circumstances, Thuong said.

Thongloun Sisoulith (center right), general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, arrives in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 16, 2023, to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

With Lao President

On Friday, Xi met with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Lao president.

Xi noted that China stands ready to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Laos, import more quality farm produce from Laos, and expand cooperation in energy and mining

The two leaders inked a 2024-2028 action plan between the CPC and the LPRP on building a China-Laos community with a shared future after their meeting.

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During the meeting, Xi said the two sides should leverage the new five-year action plan to enrich the relations between the two parties and the two countries, and inject new impetus into regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

He called on the CPC and the LPRP to continuously deepen political mutual trust, enhance governance capability, and strengthen communication and cooperation.

The two sides should tap deeper into the potential of the China-Laos Railway, steadily advance the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor, and create a template for Belt and Road cooperation in the region, Xi said.

China stands ready to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Laos, import more quality farm produce from Laos, and expand cooperation in energy and mining, he noted.

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He also said China supports Laos, which will assume the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, in playing a greater role in regional and international affairs.

Thongloun, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and a working visit to China, expressed appreciation for China's long-time and valuable assistance for the economic and social development of Laos. He noted that the new five-year action plan will further consolidate the friendly cooperation between the two parties and the two countries.

In this undated photo, the first cross-border passenger train passes over the Galanba bridge on the China-Laos Railway in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Laos is ready to strengthen high-level interaction with China, advance practical cooperation on the Laos-China Economic Corridor and other projects, and enhance coordination and cooperation on ASEAN-China relations and regional issues to push for new development of bilateral relations, Thongloun said.

After the meeting, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as Belt and Road cooperation, digital economy, media, culture, tourism, public health, and customs inspection and quarantine.

With President of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies

Xi also met with President of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira.

Lira said that cooperation with China has effectively promoted Brazil's economic and social development and increased Brazil's employment and production capacity

Xi said that China and Brazil are the two largest developing countries in the eastern and western hemispheres, respectively, and are emerging major countries with global influence. Faced with a tumultuous world, the two countries should firmly support each other.

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The Belt and Road Initiative is highly compatible with Brazil's reindustrialization and New Growth Acceleration Program, Xi said, adding the two sides should synergize them to facilitate their respective modernization process.

Xi said China supports Brazil in hosting the G20 summit next year as well as the United Nations climate change conference in 2025, and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Brazil.

Xi expressed the hope that Lira and his fellow members of the chamber will actively promote exchanges and cooperation between China and Brazil, and contribute to the better development of bilateral ties.

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Lira said that cooperation with China has effectively promoted Brazil's economic and social development and increased Brazil's employment and production capacity. China's success is of great significance to the world, and China has always been an important partner for Brazil's development.

As the rotating chair of the G20 next year, Brazil is willing to closely communicate and coordinate with China, and looks forward to President Xi's visit then, said Lira.