BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A landlocked nation in Southeast Asia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic is surrounded by China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand.

Laos is a mountainous country with an area of 236,800 square km and a population of 6 million with more than 60 ethnic groups. The Mekong River flows through the country. Eighty-five percent of residents believe in Buddhism. Lao is the official language and its capital is Vientiane.

Laos has a long history and was once among the most prosperous countries in Southeast Asia. In modern times, it has been invaded by France, Japan and the United States. In Dec. 1975, the 1st National People's Congress of Laos opened in Vietiane and the Lao People's Democratic Republic was founded.

In recent years, the Lao economy has enjoyed rapid development .During 2001-2005, its economy posted an average growth rate of 6.2 percent. In 2005, the country's Gross Domestic Products (GDP) reached 2.92 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 7.2 percent over 2004. Under the Sixth Five-Year Plan, Laos' GDP in 2010 will quadruple that of 2000. It aims to take itself out of the list of the world's least developed countries in 2020.

Laos pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and maintaining friendly relations with all countries. By the end of 2005, it has established diplomatic ties with 121 countries in the world. In July 1997, Laos was formally admitted to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Laos and China enjoy a profound traditional friendship. The two countries established diplomatic ties on April 25, 1961. In Nov. 2000, the then Chinese President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to Laos. During the visit, the two sides signed a joint communique on strengthening bilateral cooperation.

In June this year, Lao President and Sectary-General of Central Committee of Lao People's Revolutionary Party Choummaly Sayasone visited China, pushing bilateral relations to a new high.

With bilateral relations steadily growing, exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at different levels have been expanded, and trade and economic cooperation increased. In 2003, bilateral trade exceeded 100 million U.S. dollars and it reached 130 million in 2005, a 13.6-percent rise over the previous year. During Jan.- Sept. this year, bilateral trade reached 175 million dollars, an increase of 119.4 percent over the same period of last year.