Lao foreign minister: Yunnan is gateway of LMC

"Yunnan Province is the gateway to countries in the Mekong sub-region as it borders most Mekong countries. It is a perfect province of China which would work closely with the Mekong countries," said Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs the Lao PDR.

Saleumxay said this at an interview with Yunnan reporters at the backdrop of the on-going 3rd Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

GATEWAY is the word Saleumxay mentioned most frequently in the interview. “Economically, Yunnan is a big market for Laos and other Mekong countries, and because of its proximity to the area Yunnan can provide a connectivity hub for Mekong countries to connect with other provinces in China.”

Saleumxay said Yunnan is one of the most beautiful place in China. “I have been to Kunming many times, but to Dali this is the first time. Since the plane was about to land, I observed the magnificent scenery of Dali: blue sky, mountain and the beautiful Er'hai Lake, which are combinations of everything that every city in the world would like to have".

He added Laos has a lot of tourists coming from China, particularly from Yunnan Province, and a number of Lao tourists also visit Yunnan to enjoy the beautiful sceneries in Dali, Kunming, Jinghong.

“In the framework of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, education is one of the area that Mekong countries and China will continue to expand.”
Saleumxay said around 1,000 Lao students are studying in Yunnan, adding China helps improve health-care services and hospital facilities in Laos and other Mekong countries.

“I am sure that there will be a number of areas of cooperation between Yunnan cities/prefectures and Lao provinces. The network has been established."

Reporting by Zhang Ruogu & Han Chengyuan