Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongphane Savanphet (centre) joins a photo session before chairing the meetings. - Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE: Asean senior officials are reviewing the progress made towards fulfilling nine priorities, other deliverables and essential initiatives for Laos as the Chair of Asean, aligning with the theme “Asean: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
The Asean Senior Officials meeting, which took place in Laos on Thursday (June 6), discussed the overall progress made in the implementation of various activities, noting the impressive outcomes achieved and reviewing future plans of action.
The meeting was chaired by Laos’ Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongphane Savanphet, who is the Senior Asean Official of the Lao PDR, along with a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Commission.
Senior officials from Asean and Timor-Leste participated in the meeting and related sessions. They discussed other issues relating to the strengthening of the Asean Community and creation of strategic plans to develop the vision of the Asean Community to 2045.
These plans comprise one relating to the Asean political-security community, strategic plans for the Asean Community, Asean economy, and Asean cultural-social community, and a strategic plan on Asean connectivity.
Meeting participants also discussed cooperation between Asean and external partners and proposed countries that are interested in becoming a party to a Friendship and Cooperation Treaty with Asean.
Preparations for the 57th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 57th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with dialogue partners, the 25th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Plus 3, the 14th Asean Summit, and meetings under the 31st Asean Regional Forum, which will be held on July 24-27, were evaluated.
Later in the same day, senior Asean officials attended a meeting of the Executive Committee of the South-East Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Commission. They reviewed the progress of the Action Plan of the Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Convention in South-East Asia (2023-2027) and considered the signing of a sub-agreement of the treaty by countries in possession of nuclear weapons.
The meeting also discussed the progress of Timor Leste’s application to become a party to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone. - Vientiane Times/ANN
