DILI, 07 october 2024 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Gusmão attends the 44thand 45th ASEAN Heads of State and Government Summits and related Summits in Vientiane from 8-11 October.
Prime Minister Gusmão was invited by the Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Sonexay Siphandone, who currently assumes the ASEAN Chairship.
The theme of the Summits is “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
Timor-Leste is currently an Observer to ASEAN and plans to become a member in 2025.
At these Summits the Prime Minister will be joined by other Heads of State and Government of the ASEAN member states as well as those of the ASEAN Partners such as India, China, Japan, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, the European Union, the United Nations and the Republic of Korea. The UN Secretary-General is expected to attend.
On 7 october 2024 at the National Convention Centre, Vientiane, Thongphane SAVANPHET, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR’s ASEAN SOM Leader presided over the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting with the participation of ASEAN SOM Leaders, Timor-Leste SOM Leader, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community and ASEAN delegates.
“ASEAN Senior Official’s Meeting reviewed and highly valued the progress of the strengthening of ASEAN Community through the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 as well as the achievement made in the implementation of the 9 priority areas of Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2024, including the development of Strategic Plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045,” said in a statement.
The Meeting discussed various matters pertaining to the preparation for Timor-Leste’s full membership in ASEAN. The Meeting also discussed the increasing applications from non-regional countries to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and exchanged views on the preparation and arrangement for the signing ceremony of the Instrument of Accession to the TAC by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to be held on 10 october 2024.
The Theme: “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”
The ASEAN region, like other regions around the world, continues to face myriad challenges, including lingering economic and financial difficulties, even though the region has been gradually recovering from multidimensional disturbances, and yet this recovery remains fragile. Additionally, climate change, natural disasters, and traditional and non-traditional security issues are still pressing challenges. Against this backdrop, enhancing connectivity and resilience is of utmost importance to ensure ASEAN collective efforts in the strengthening of the ASEAN Community to seize opportunities and address present and emerging challenges effectively.
It is imperative for ASEAN to enhance its cooperation on ASEAN connectivity and resilience through intensifying ASEAN cooperation under the three community pillars; promoting infrastructure connectivity, narrowing development gap, promoting greater economic integration and people-to-people exchanges; and further strengthening ASEAN’s relations with external partners, while maintaining ASEAN’s relevance and ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
To this end, the Lao PDR has determined the theme for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024: “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
