KUNMING, June 13 -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met here with foreign leaders attending the third China-South Asia Expo on Friday.

When meeting with Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Li said China and Laos are good neighbors and friends and the two sides are expected to strengthen strategic communication and have more cooperation in connectivity, energy, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges.

Thongsing Thammavong said Laos hopes to beef up pragmatic cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative.

When meeting with Bangladeshi parliamentary speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Li said China welcomes Bangladesh to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. China hopes the two sides will enhance cooperation in investment, industrial capacity and infrastructure construction and have more communication among political parties, parliaments, youths and think tanks.

Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said Bangladesh will create positive conditions to promote bilateral cooperation projects.

When meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Li expressed hope that the two sides work to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of two countries and enhance cooperation in economy, trade and investment.

Hoang Trung Hai said Vietnam values the ties with China and will make joint efforts with China to develop bilateral ties.

The expo opened on Friday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, and will run until June 16.