Economic and commercial counselor of Chinese embassy in Laos Wang Qihui (L, front) and General Director of the Office of Lao Health Ministry Nao Boutta (R, front) attend a signing ceremony in Vientiane, Laos, on March 9, 2018. Laos and China on Friday held a signing ceremony for an agreement on the implementation of the China-aided Mahosot hospital project here. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun)

VIENTIANE, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Laos and China on Friday held a signing ceremony for an agreement on the implementation of the China-aided Mahosot hospital project here.

Economic and commercial counselor of Chinese embassy in Laos Wang Qihui and General Director of the Office of Lao Health Ministry Nao Boutta signed the agreement on behalf of the Chinese and Lao governments, respectively.

"I hope this project will help the Lao government offer the modernized medical service to the people, so that it will not be necessary for the Lao people to be treated in neighboring countries," Deputy Health Minister Phouthone Meuangpak said at the ceremony.

"Mahosot hospital project is the most important in the two countries' cooperation in the health sector. China will provide the most modern equipment for this project," said Wang Qihui.

"I believe that through the cooperation, both sides will make this project a success and provide the medical services to the Lao people in the near future."

During his state visit to Laos in November 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the foundation-laying ceremony for the China-built hospital in the Lao capital along with Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit.

The health project with Chinese assistance includes the expansion of the existing Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane and the building of new medical facilities in the hospital, a new 600-bed large-scale general hospital, with a construction area of approximately 54,000 square meters.

As a landmark project in China-Laos cooperation in public welfare, the new hospital is expected to be put into use in 2021.