Laos will continue to work with other member countries of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) to promote trade, investment, tourism and other related fields.
This was the key message delivered by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith during the 2nd ACD Summit, held in Bangkok, Thailand from October 9-10. The summit was organised under the theme One Asia, Diverse Strengths.
In his opening remarks at the summit, PM Thongloun stated that ACD is a single organisation in the Asia region and a stage to discuss economic cooperation, especially the ACD Vision for Asia Cooperation 2030.
PM Thongloun noted the Lao government was now implementing a sustainable development strategy by focusing on the potential of its own development, saying Hydro power has great potential for the expansion of national socio-economic development.
The Lao premier also emphasised that connectivity was one of many areas the government was paying high importance to and developing its basic infrastructure, especially the transportation system.
Laos is a land-locked country and has no borders connected with the sea. So far, connectivity plays an important role in contributing to national socio-economic development, PM Thongloun said. As a result the Lao government has initiated policies to turn it from a land-locked to a land-linked country which will facilitate not only Laos with its neighbouring countries, but also other member states in the region.
Out of this, PM Thongloun said Laos was also focused on promotion of the tourism industry, which is one of the six consolidated pillars of cooperation of ACD, especially in the forms of cultural and natural tourism which will bring benefits and give opportunities for the exchanging of various cultures in the region.
PM Thongloun and his delegation left Laos to the attend the summit last week where they met with other leaders and foreign ministers from 34 Asian member countries that convened to reshape cooperation and development in the region.
At the summit leaders and their delegates gathered to discuss ways to promote expansion of economic development among the Asian member states.
This summit approved three documents: the ACD Vision for Asia Cooperation 2030, the Bangkok Declaration and the ACD Statement on Reigniting Growth through Partnerships for Connectivity.
The main objectives of the ACD are to constitute the link in Asian cooperation and transform the continent into an Asian community, promote interdependence among Asian countries in all areas of cooperation by identifying their common strengths and opportunities, and expand trade and financial markets within the region.
Source: Vientiane Times
