Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, exchanged congratulations on Saturday with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, on the 65th anniversary of China-Laos diplomatic relations.

Xi said that as socialist neighbors in a community with a shared future, China and Laos are united by shared ideals and beliefs, identical social systems and similar development paths, and that their "comradely and brotherly" bond, personally forged by the older generation of leaders of both parties and countries, has grown ever stronger over time.

At present, the two sides are accelerating efforts to build a high-standard, high-quality and high-level China-Laos community with a shared future. Exchanges at all levels have become closer, and cooperation across various fields continues to deepen, he said.

On issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, the two sides firmly support one another, injecting valuable stability and certainty into the region and the world, Xi said.

The CPC and the Chinese government have always viewed China-Laos ties from a strategic and long-term perspective and regard Laos as a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy, he said.

Xi voiced willingness to work with Thongloun to take the 65th anniversary of China-Laos diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Laos Friendship as an opportunity to enhance strategic mutual trust, carry forward the traditional friendship, and push for more outcomes in practical cooperation across various fields, in order to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

Thongloun said that over the 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the friendly ties between the two parties, the two countries and the two peoples — marked by solidarity in times of difficulty — have been lifted to higher levels, with fruitful outcomes in building the Laos-China community with a shared future.

He expressed gratitude for the long-standing valuable support and assistance provided by the CPC, the Chinese government and people.

Thongloun said that Laos will remain committed to the one-China principle, support China in safeguarding its core interests, and work with China to follow through on the new five-year action plan for the Laos-China community with a shared future.

Also on Saturday, Premier Li Qiang and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone exchanged congratulations.

In another development, President Xi exchanged congratulations on Saturday with Cape Verdean President Jose Maria Neves on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In a message, Xi said that China and Cape Verde share a traditional friendship that has stood the test of time and continues to flourish.

Over the past five decades, the two sides have understood and supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, and cooperation in development and livelihood sectors has yielded positive results, he said.

China-Cape Verde relations, he said, set a fine example for mutual respect and friendly cooperation between large and small countries.

Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Cape Verde relations and stands ready to work with Neves to seize the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations to carry forward the time-honored friendship, deepen practical cooperation and enhance multilateral coordination, to continuously enrich the strategic partnership between the two countries and bring greater benefits to the two peoples.

Neves said that Cape Verde highly appreciates its friendly cooperation with China over the past half-century and thanked China for its valuable contributions to the sustainable development of the nation.

Cape Verde is ready to work with China to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to consolidate political mutual trust and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, in order to deliver more benefits to the two peoples, Neves added.