BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for deepening cooperation with Laos and creating better future for bilateral ties by taking the opportunity of jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit, who is also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP).