Chinese VP meets Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia leaders

Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao on Thursday met with leaders of Sri Lanka, Laos and Cambodia during a conference of Asian political parties in northwest China\'s Xi\'an City. As the China-Sri Lanka relationship is experiencing its best period, China wishes to deepen mutual beneficial cooperation with Sri Lanka to promote the advancement of the strategic cooperative partnership, Li told Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse. On his part, Rajapakse said his country wishes to widen bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment, tourism, education and youth exchanges. When meeting with Laotian Vice President Boungnang Vorachit, Li said the new leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is ready to join hands with Laos to develop the cause of socialism. Boungnang echoed Li, saying China\'s achievement and experience has inspired Laos to develop socialism with Laotian characteristics. During talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Li expressed China\'s hopes to implement the action plan of the China-Cambodia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation as this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Sok An said Cambodia is ready to cooperate more with China in agriculture, industry, infrastructure, tourism and trade. Running under the theme \"Promote green development and build a beautiful Asia together,\" the two-day conference has attracted representatives from about 50 political parties from Asian countries. About 200 people from Latin American and African parties are also participating as observers. The ICAPP is a forum of political parties from Asian and Oceanic countries. It was initiated by Philippines political party the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats in September 2000. The CPC hosted the organization\'s general assembly in 2004 in Beijing, as well as two special conferences in 2010 and 2011.