The following is the full message of Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of ASEAN and the 20th Anniversary of the Lao PDR’s Accession to ASEAN:

Fellow Compatriots and People of the Lao PDR

2017 is a historic year, marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN (August 8, 1967 – August 8, 2017) and the 20th anniversary of Lao PDR’s accession to ASEAN (July 23, 1997 - July 23, 2017).

On behalf of the Government of the Lao PDR, I would like to express my warm greetings to the Leaders of the Party and State, officials, soldiers, police officers and all Lao people, including overseas Lao as well as foreigners working and residing in the Lao PDR.

As we are all well aware, ASEAN has over the past 50 years evolved and adjusted itself to the changing regional and international landscapes, taking into account the region’s diversity in culture, religion, language, political system and level of economic development, among others, thereby contributing to ASEAN’s gradual growth.

ASEAN has expanded its membership to cover 10 nations in Southeast Asia and has also gradually deepened and broadened all areas of cooperation covering economic, socio-­cultural and political-security fields.

In addition, ASEAN has continuously strengthened its external relations including through dialogue partnership with a number of major countries and has created various forms and modalities of engagement with other external parties based on potential and specific features of each country. ASEAN has initiated cooperation mechanisms namely: ASEAN+1, ASEAN Plus Three, ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, ASEAN Regional Forum, and East Asia Summit, which have provided important platforms for not only ASEAN’s engagement with Dialogue Partners but also creating an opportunity for Dialogue Partners to engage with one another on important regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern, thereby contributing to further promoting mutual understanding, strategic trust and creating conducive environment for the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and development cooperation in the region and the world at large. Most importantly, ASEAN's centrality has been well recognised in the evolving regional architecture that is being built upon the ASEAN-initiated mechanisms.

The most remarkable achievement of ASEAN has been the maintenance of peace, security, and stability in Southeast Asia, which has provided favourable conditions for ASEAN Member States’ respective socio-economic development as well as enhanced intra-ASEAN cooperation and ASEAN's external relations leading to the establishment of the ASEAN Community on 31 December 2015 with a strong foundation to move forward.

ASEAN's growth, albeit slow, has been firm and steady and all Member States have moved forward together at a pace comfortable to all. ASEAN’s achievements over the past five decades have been possible due to many factors, one of them being the ‘ASEAN Way’, which is based on the particularities and unique characteristics of the ASEAN region that is exemplified by diversity, mutual understanding, and adherence to ASEAN’s fundamental principles as enshrined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, ASEAN Charter, and other ASEAN instruments.

Excellencies, Fellow Compatriots,

Amid the evolving and complex regional and international landscape filled with risks, ASEAN, in moving forward, must continue to build upon the achievements it has made thus far, further deepen economic integration within the region and with the wider region, pursue ASEAN’s outward-­looking policy by strengthening relations with external partners and consolidating relations with Dialogue Partners as well as enhancing engagement with other external parties through appropriate forms and modalities of cooperation that are adaptable, firm and consistent. At the same time, ASEAN should also further strengthen ASEAN-initiated mechanisms and enhance ASEAN’s centrality and unity in its external relations and in the evolving regional architecture. Most importantly, ASEAN continues to be a master of its own destiny, adheres to ASEAN’s fundamental principles as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter and moves at a pace comfortable to all.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Lao PDR is proud to be part of the ASEAN family. Since its accession to ASEAN in 1997, ASEAN has been an important pillar of Lao PDR’s foreign policy. Over the past 20 years, the Lao PDR has actively participated in and contributed to all cooperation areas under the three community pillars as well as ASEAN’s external relations, and has also been fulfilling its obligations, thus bringing benefits to the country and the Lao people. Most importantly, the Lao PDR has successfully chaired ASEAN twice, the first time in 2004–2005 under the theme “Advancing a Secure and Dynamic ASEAN Family through Greater Solidarity, Economic Integration and Social Progress” and the second time in 2016 under the theme “Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community”. During the second ASEAN chairmanship, many important documents were adopted, which have served as basis for ASEAN cooperation under the 3 community pillars and cooperation between ASEAN and external partners. Such achievements have promoted and elevated the role of the Lao PDR in regional and international arena to a new height.

All in all, Lao PDR’s ASEAN membership over the past two decades has brought about benefits to the country in many aspects such as:

1) Lao PDR’s role in regional and international for a has been raised;

2) We have contributed to creating a regional environment of peace and stability that is conducive to socio-economic development of the Lao PDR, and have also contributed significantly to the development of fundamental core principles and guidelines of ASEAN;

3) Throughout the 20 years of ASEAN membership, the Lao PDR has received support and assistance in various areas from ASEAN Member States, ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners and other external parties through bilateral and multilateral frameworks, which has helped advance Lao PDR’s efforts in regional and international economic integration, i.e. ASEAN was one of the driving factors for the successful accession by the Lao PDR’s to the WTO;

4) We have become part of ASEAN’s market, which is the 6th largest economy in the world, thus providing opportunities for Lao PDR’s greater access to international markets through ASEAN Free Trade Agreements with Dialogue Partners as well as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which is expected to be concluded soon;

5) We have improved our domestic laws and regulations so as to facilitate increased trade and investment volume in the Lao PDR;

6) People-to-people connectivity has been enhanced, allowing a larger number of tourist arrivals in the Lao PDR;

7) Lao cultures and traditions have been promoted and recognised by the international community; and

8) Through the participation in ASEAN activities, Lao PDR’s human resources have been further enhanced so as to gradually meet regional and international standards.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to commend you all including all relevant sectors for your active contributions to the work of ASEAN throughout the past 20 years. I would like to also express my sincere appreciation for the valuable contributions of all Lao people to the hosting and convening of ASEAN meetings, particularly the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and other related Summits in September 2016 with great success.

Excellencies, Fellow Compatriots,

As a member of the ASEAN Community, Laos will work closely with other member states in order to further strengthen the Community. We, at the national level, will continue to focus on the following:

1) Promote awareness of the Lao people on the ASEAN Community;

2) Improve internal coordination mechanisms among sectors, including between the central and local levels to ensure effective and timely coordination;

3) Promote commercial production and services based on Lao PDR’s potentials to be able to compete in the markets of ASEAN and outside regions, especially our Dialogue Partners;

4) Improve laws and regulations related to the establishment and operation of businesses in order to enable the business sector to continuously improve their capacity and increase their competitiveness; and

5) Develop human resources at both central and local levels focusing on those who are involved in the regional and international economic integration processes.

Fellow Compatriots,

This year under ASEAN chairmanship of the Philippines with the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World”, we will celebrate together the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN in a meaningful manner in order to reaffirm the continued relevance of ASEAN as an inter-governmental organisation with significant achievements that have been recognised by others regions and the international community as a whole. ASEAN will forge ahead together by continuing to strengthen the ASEAN Community through the effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and its three community Blueprints, Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan III to further contribute to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

On this auspicious occasion, therefore, I would like to invite all Lao people to collectively commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of ASEAN and 20thAnniversary of Lao PDR’s accession to ASEAN in a joyful and meaningful manner.

Last but not least, I would like to extend my best wishes to the Leaders of the Party and State, officials, soldiers, police officers, business people, entrepreneurs and all Lao people, including overseas Lao along with foreigners working and residing in the Lao PDR for good health, happiness and greater success in your noble tasks so as to be able to contribute to the socio-economic development of the Lao PDR as well as further strengthen the ASEAN Community in the coming years.

Thank you.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL

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