Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other ASEAN leaders attend the opening session of the ASEAN Summit. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In his opening remarks, Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith emphasized that ASEAN's successes have contributed to creating a favorable environment for socio-economic development of member countries over the years. He thanked member countries, dialogue partners, partners outside the bloc and the ASEAN Secretariat for always providing Laos with support and cooperation in ASEAN activities as well as its role as ASEAN Chair.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said that to date, nine priorities of the 2024 ASEAN Chair Year themed “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience” have all achieved progress, mapping out strategies for the three pillars of the ASEAN Community and the ASEAN connectivity strategy to deliver on the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.  ASEAN is becoming a region recognized and cared about by external partners and dialogue partners who always support ASEAN's centrality  in the regional cooperation structure, he went on.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone emphasized that in the current global context, ASEAN needs to be steadfast in its autonomy, tighten cooperation to respond to challenges in a timely manner, and effectively take advantage of all opportunities.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other ASEAN leaders pose for a photo. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

After the opening ceremony, the Vietnamese Prime Minister together with leaders of other ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste attended the plenary session of the ASEAN Summit, discussing cooperation contents within ASEAN and between the bloc and its partners.