Spreading the spirit of connection and self-reliance

By successfully hosting ASEAN 2024 as Chair, Laos has conveyed the image of a confident country, an active, proactive and responsible member in the region with increasingly affirmed capacity.

ASEAN leaders pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos on October 9-11. (Photo: Nhat Bac)

Connectivity and Self-reliance - the “right and on point” theme

Laos's role as ASEAN Chair 2024 marks an important period for the country as well as the Association, as 2024 is an important milestone year for ASEAN towards the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Community in 2025.

The theme of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024 “ ASEAN: Promoting Connectivity and Resilience ” has been clearly concretized by Laos, affirming the harmony with the general orientation of the Association, while emphasizing connectivity and resilience in the context of slow and unstable recovery of the global and regional economy.

Looking back at 2024, it can be seen that Laos has focused on deepening the connotation of “Connectivity” and “Self-reliance”, demonstrated through a number of key achievements:

First, successfully organize Summits and adopt a series of documents of great significance for the common development of the region. Throughout 2024, Laos organized hundreds of conferences of various sizes and levels within the ASEAN framework. Notably, in October 2024, the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related conferences adopted more than 90 important cooperation documents.

In addition, Laos also successfully promoted the continued development of the Strategic Plan of the three pillars of politics - security, economy and culture - society for the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

Second, promoting intra-bloc economic integration and enhancing digital economic cooperation. Affirming that economic connectivity is a key pillar in the relationship, promoting trade and investment connectivity, ASEAN and its partners have adopted Declarations such as the ASEAN+3 Summit Statement on Enhancing Regional Supply Chain Connectivity, the ASEAN-Canada Summit Joint Statement on ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience, and the Declaration on the Basic Completion of Negotiations on the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Version 3.0.

In addition, under the chairmanship of the Chair, the implementation of the “ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025” has made significant progress, with 807 activities completed in 2024 - an increase of 34% over the previous year.

The promotion of the adoption of the above documents and implementation of the above initiatives by Laos contributes to reaffirming the commitment of ASEAN in general and Laos in particular in making economic integration a focus, ensuring that member countries benefit equally from regional growth, while strengthening intra-bloc cooperation to address emerging challenges.

The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos. (Source: Laotian Times)

Third, it has made important contributions to promoting dialogue and cooperation to address regional challenges. In the context of increasingly complex geopolitical challenges, Laos has successfully organized many bilateral and multilateral meetings to discuss and seek solutions, thereby continuing to strengthen and effectively maintain ASEAN's central role in participating in resolving regional and international issues.

At the same time, it demonstrates positivity in promoting and deepening relations with ASEAN's dialogue partners. Formal and informal consultation mechanisms are maintained regularly, ensuring close coordination among member states in addressing common challenges in the region such as maritime security, transnational crime and cyber security.

Enhancing the position and prestige of Laos

The year 2024 will see Laos successfully assume the role of ASEAN Chair with encouraging efforts.

Laos has proactively and actively prepared for its Chairmanship year by establishing 14 subcommittees in charge of different fields. In just 3 days of the ASEAN Summit and related conferences, Laos has organized more than 20 consecutive activities, welcoming more than 30 senior leaders of ASEAN countries and partners, with more than 2,000 delegates attending and 1,000 reporters from news agencies and newspapers participating in reporting.

This effort is even more valuable in the context of Laos stepping up efforts to address and resolve difficulties and challenges in socio-economic development. 2024 also marked a breakthrough in Lao tourism when it welcomed nearly 5 million domestic and foreign visitors, bringing in revenue of more than 1 billion USD.

The 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship is also an opportunity for Laos to affirm its foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship, cooperation and development with all countries; continue to multilateralize and diversify cooperative relations; and be an active and responsible member of the ASEAN Community. Thereby, helping to convey to regional and international friends the image of a Laos that is striving, confident and increasingly affirmed in its capacity to assume the role of hosting major international conferences.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and heads of ASEAN delegations attend the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi, April 23, 2024.

Vietnam contributes to common success

With the special and “unique” relationship between the two countries, Vietnam has provided valuable and practical support to Laos. During visits by leaders at all levels between the two countries, Vietnam has always affirmed its commitment to supporting Laos in successfully assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, further highlighting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

In particular, the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF), held for the first time in April 2024 in Hanoi, is not only an initiative of Vietnam to contribute to regional cooperation and connectivity, but also a landmark event in Laos's Chairmanship year, highly appreciated by public opinion in and outside the region.

In addition to Vietnam's significant financial and material support, relevant ministries, departments and sectors of the two countries have also actively organized experience exchange and training activities to help Laos fulfill its responsibilities during its ASEAN Chairmanship year.

Lao Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair 2024 Sonexay Siphandone (left) hands over the ASEAN Chairmanship hammer for 2025 to Malaysia. (Photo: Nhat Bac)

Towards the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2025

Although the results achieved by ASEAN during Laos's Chairmanship year 2024 are very valuable, contributing to the common goal of building the ASEAN Community, as well as maintaining and promoting peace, stability and development in the region and the world, ASEAN in general and its member countries in particular are still facing multi-dimensional difficulties and challenges.

Geopolitical tensions and potential hotspots within and outside the region require ASEAN to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to seek peaceful solutions, in which the leading role of Malaysia - the ASEAN Chair in 2025 with the theme "Inclusive and Sustainable" is very important.

On the eve of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMMR) scheduled to take place in Langkawi, Malaysia from January 18-19, 2025, we hope that the 10-year milestone of the establishment of the ASEAN Community will record positive marks, affirming the central and important role of ASEAN in the evolving regional structure.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhin-lai-nam-chu-tich-asean-2024-cua-lao-lan-toa-tinh-than-ket-noi-va-suc-manh-tu-cuong-300378.html