Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China, meets with a delegation headed by President of the People's Supreme Court of Laos Viengthong Siphandone at the SPC headquarters in Beijing on May 17, 2023. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

On May 17, Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China, met with a delegation headed by President of the People's Supreme Court of Laos Viengthong Siphandone at the SPC headquarters in Beijing.

Zhang extended his welcome to the delegation, saying that China and Laos have been friendly neighboring countries since ancient times, enjoying mutual respect and trust politically, mutual benefits economically, and mutual understanding and amity in people-to-people exchanges. In November 2022, the two heads of states reached political consensus on building a China-Laos community with a shared future, which transcends their traditional bilateral relations and is bound to bring about more solidarity and sustainability.

Zhang introduced the practice and experience of Chinese courts on topics of mutual interest, such as personnel management, intellectual property protection, trials on bankruptcy cases, and informatization development. He said that the SPC attaches great importance to its cooperative relations with its Laotian counterpart, and is ready to work together to implement the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen judicial cooperation to serve the Belt and Road Initiative, and strive to provide stronger judicial services and guarantee for the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Viengthong spoke highly of Chinese courts' reformative explorations in recent years. She introduced Laotian courts' work in team building, infrastructure development and case management, especially in addressing their current challenges, and expressed a willingness to learn from Chinese courts and deepen cooperation between the judicial organs of the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening mutual visits of higher-level courts and cooperation between local and border courts, as well as in the exchange and training of judges.