Zhou Yongkang (R), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Political and Legal Affairs, meets with Laotian Vice President Boungnang Vorachit, in Vientiane, Laos, Aug. 18, 2011. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

VIENTIANE, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Visiting senior Chinese official Zhou Yongkang laid out a package of measures here Friday to promote China-Laos relations.

In talks with Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Zhou noted the China-Laos relationship had entered a new phase of development since the two nations established their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2009.

The total volume of bilateral trade exceeded 1 billion U.S. dollars last year, marking year-on-year growth of more than 40 percent, and China had become the largest foreign investor in Laos, said Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

China was ready to work with the Lao side to build on the traditional friendship and further boost bilateral cooperation to continue propelling the China-Laos relations forward, he said.

The Chinese guest proposed the two sides should first map out a mid- to long-term plan to guide the overall development of their cooperation and pursue common development.

Meanwhile, the two neighboring countries needed to expand cooperation in such areas as infrastructure construction, border crossing construction and poverty reduction, Zhou said.

In addition, the two sides should encourage their enterprises to invest in each other's country and improve their investment environments, said the senior Chinese official, who also called for more efforts to deepen bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides, he said, also needed to cooperate more deeply and effectively in security, law enforcement, drug control and border management to contribute to the political security and social stability of the two countries.

Thongsing extended a warm welcome to Zhou and the CPC delegation he led and thanked China for its immeasurable selfless aid and support for Laos.

China was a strategic friend of the Lao people, and Laos was willing to join China in further boosting their friendly relations.

Zhou Yongkang (2nd L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Political and Legal Affairs, meets with Laotian Vice President Boungnang Vorachit (3rd R), in Vientiane, Laos, Aug. 18, 2011. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

On Thursday, Zhou met Lao Vice President Bounnang Vorachit and the two attended the signing ceremony for about a dozen bilateral cooperation agreements.

The CPC delegation arrived here Thursday afternoon after rounding off a visit to Nepal, the first leg of Zhou's ongoing five-nation Asian tour, which will also take him to Cambodia, Tajikistan and Mongolia.