ASEAN diplomats gather in Laos for high-stakes pre-summit talks

Top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened on Tuesday in Vientiane, Laos. The meeting, chaired by Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, included key discussions with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and foreign ministers from member countries.

The assembly focused on crucial preparations for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits, scheduled to commence on Wednesday. “The ASEAN Foreign Ministers discussed the preparations for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits,” the association confirmed on X.

With the summit running from Wednesday to Friday, several ASEAN leaders have already arrived in the Laotian capital. This gathering is poised to serve as a vital platform for ASEAN and its partners to explore initiatives aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and resilience.

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The regional bloc, which encompasses over 700 million people and spans 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square kilometers), recorded a total GDP of $3.62 trillion in 2022. Leaders are also expected to engage in dialogues with partner nations, including China, Japan, and South Korea, further underscoring the summit’s importance in shaping the region’s future.