Venues to host the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits, related summits and meetings scheduled to take place from September 6-8 in Vientiane are well prepared to accommodate the events, officials in charge have told the Prime Minister.PM Thongloun Sisoulith and his delegates on Saturday toured the National Convention Centre – the main venue where the summits will take place to inspect the preparations firsthand.
The PM also inspected the preparations for the ASEM Villa, Muong Thanh Luxury Vientiane hotel, and Land Mark Hotel where foreign leaders and delegates of the summits will be accommodated.
Over recent weeks, officials in charge of various operations for the summits have been working hard to ensure they will run smoothly and successfully.
Security officials have been properly prepared to provide services. Officials from various sectors and volunteer students have also undergone trainings on service provision.
Director of Vientiane Health Department, Dr Phonepaseuth Ounaphom said recently that health officials have intensified their inspections into hotels, restaurants, local food shops and even local markets to ensure hygienic food was served for the delegates.
Those restaurants that meet food-safety criteria will be granted certificates ahead of the summits taking place.
Initially, Lao officials estimated that more than 5,000 leaders, official delegates, and business leaders, of whom 600 are foreign media personnel, would attend and cover the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits, related summits and meetings to be held back-to-back in the Lao capital.
Leaders from the 10 ASEAN member countries are scheduled to attend the summits. Leaders from countries that are members to the East Asia Summit (EAS) are also expected to attend the EAS.
Lao President Mr. Bounnhang Vorachit will deliver opening remarks for the ASEAN summits on September 6 at the National Convention Centre.
During the 3-day summits, Prime Minister Thongloun as the chair of Lao ASEAN Chairmanship this year, will host and chair at least 11 summits in Vientiane.
The 28th ASEAN Summit will discuss ASEAN Community building efforts especially the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the way forward, while the 29th ASEAN Summit will focus discussion on ASEAN’s external relations and future directions as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern.
The ASEAN+1 Summits will review cooperation, discuss future directions and exchange views on regional and international issues.
The 19th ASEAN Plus Three (China-Japan-Republic of Korea) Summit and the 11th EAS, a forum of Leaders from 18 countries (10 ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, India, Republic of Korea, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and United States) will review and discuss the future direction of cooperation with ASEAN as well as exchange views on regional and international issues.
During the Saturday tour, PM Thongloun and his delegates also visited the Government Hotline and Police Command Centre (GHL-PCC).
The centre, developed by Huawei Lao PDR funded by a Chinese loan, was officially opened on Friday attended by Deputy Minister of Public Security Major General Kongthong Phongvichit, Commercial Counsellor of China Embassy to Laos, Mr. Wang Qihui, and President of Huawei South East Asia Enterprise Business Mr. Zhang Lin.
Source: Vientiane Times
