President Xi Jinping arrives in Laos on Monday at the start of a state visit to the country. [Photo/Xinhua]

VIENTIANE -- China and Laos on Monday agreed to build a community of shared future with strategic importance during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Southeast Asian country.

The two sides made the decision during a meeting between Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Bounnhang Vorachit, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos.

It is the first visit in 11 years by a Chinese head of state and top CPC leader to Laos.

Speaking highly of each other's development achievements, the two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and push forward China's reform and opening up and Laos' reform and renewal.

The two countries will continue to hold the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners, consolidate the China-Laos traditional friendship, and strive to lift their long-standing and stable comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new stage, they said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Bounnhang Vorachit, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos, in Vientiane, Laos, Nov. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Xi praised Laos for sticking to a socialist path with its national characteristics and the country's great achievements in economic and social development.

He stressed that he believes under the leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by Bounnhang, the Lao people will achieve greater achievements in their pursuit for comprehensive reform and renewal.

For his part, Bounnhang spoke highly of the elevation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the CPC's guiding principles during the 19th CPC National Congress.

Bounnhang said he believes that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, the Chinese people will forge ahead smoothly towards the two centenary goals.

The achievements of the 19th CPC National Congress have greatly contributed to the development of socialist theories in a new era, and are conducive to peace, friendship, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large, he said.

The two leaders exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern, and reached important consensuses.

The two sides noted that the two countries are socialist states led by Communist parties.

They agreed that jointly building a community of shared future with strategic importance based on mutual trust is in accordance with the fundamental interests and common expectations of the two parties, two countries and two peoples, and is also conducive to the noble cause of peace and development for mankind.