VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) - The Economic and Technological Exhibition for Lancang-Mekong Cooperation 2019 will take place from November 25-28 at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane to promote economic and trade cooperation between China and countries along the Lancang-Mekong River.

A press conference on the exhibition took place in Vientiane on Thursday, co-chaired by the Director General of the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mr Xaysomphet Norasing, Director of Division for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Mr Liu Bin, and Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), Mrs Chanthachone Vongsay.

Following the successful holding of the National Economic and Technological Exhibition for Lancang-Mekong Cooperation 2016 in Sanya, the outcome of the exhibition on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation 2017 and 2018 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Economic and Technological for Lancang-Mekong Cooperation 2019 will aim to further promote cooperation.

The exhibition will be hosted by the Trade Promotion Department, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the LNCCI, and organised by the China Chamber of International Commerce.     

According to the organisers, the exhibition will showcase infrastructure construction, transportation, energy, electricity, information and communication, mineral development, water treatment, building materials, consumer electronics, agricultural equipment and materials, medical equipment and supplies, trade in services (including cross-border e-ecommerce), cultural tourism projects and others.  

The Economic and Technological Exhibition for Lancang-Mekong Cooperation began in 2016, for which China and the five countries along the Lancang-Mekong River organised an annual tourism tour.

This will be the fourth exhibition to showcase the critical outcomes of cooperation between China and the five countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, Mr Liu Bin told the press conference.

Laos is a member of Asean and an important member of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism.

Laos and China are comprehensive cooperation partners and in in 2018 the trade value between Laos and China reached US$34.7 million, an increase of 14.9 percent. Of this, China exported US$14.5 million worth of goods to Laos and imported US$20.2 million from Laos. 

This year, it is Laos’ turn to host the exhibition and as it is also Visit Laos-China Year this economic exchange and cooperation exhibition will be the best regional stage between Laos and China, Mr Liu Bin said.

Mr Xaysomphet said it was an important event for Laos, especially business operators, because they will have the opportunity to meet, learn, build networks and seek trade partners.

The exhibition will bring Chinese businesses from various sectors to Laos to display their goods and services. They are experienced and well-known companies and Lao businesses are invited to take part in this event to seek trade and investment cooperation with Chinese partners.     

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