China fully supports the efforts of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in solving the problem of remnant mines and bombs planted in and dropped on the Southeast Asian nation at the height of the Vietnam War, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Monday.

Zhang Sheping, consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Luang Prabang, made the remarks while attending an event to mark International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action in the northern Laotian city.

Zhang held discussions with Saleumxay Kommasith -- Laotian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs -- and expressed China’s full backing for Laos’ efforts.

Kommasith said the unexploded mines and bombs threaten the lives and health of the Lao people. The Laotian government is committed to increasing the people’s awareness and is willing to cooperate with all parties in clearing and destroying such mines and bombs.

Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Khamkhan Chanthavisouk, governor of Luang Prabang province, and representatives from international organizations attended the event.

Laos is among the major victim countries of cluster bombs in the world. Data show that from 1964 to 1973, the United States dropped 270 million cluster bombs in Laos. About 30 percent of them failed to explode.

According to the Laotian statistics, more than 50,000 people have been killed by bombs and landmines.