Laos has been assumed by the members of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (Fealac) as next year’s coordinator on cooperation ties between the two regions.
The assumption was made at the 17th Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held in Guatemala from August 24-25.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Economic Department Director General Mr. Songkan Luangmouninthone, who is the Lao SOM leader, was in attendance together with senior officials from 36 countries in East Asia and Latin America.
At the meeting, the senior officials discussed the improvement of working systems, Fealac enhancement, reviewed the progress of the projects and initiated activities of Fealac for 2015-2016.
These includes Fealac’s socio-political affairs, sustainable development, trade, investment, tourism and micro SMEs, cultural, youth, gender and sports issues, as well as science, technology, innovation and education working groups.
The officials also discussed Fealac’s participation in the United Nations’ Agenda on Sustainable Development towards 2030, Troika System building, Fealac fund establishment, the possibility of organising a Fealac Summit, and preparations for Fealac’s 8th Foreign Ministers Meeting to be held next year in the Republic of Korea.
The Fealac Senior Officials meeting has endorsed the Fealac action plan, proposals on monitoring Fealac cooperation projects, as well as proposals for a new country-coordinator, and co-chair, with Laos elected as the coordinator for the cooperation mechanism between the two regions next year, which is also the 20th anniversary of Fealac.
The Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation is the only body exclusively meant to enhance dialogue and cooperation between the countries of the two regions.
Source: Vientiane Times
