Lao newspapers devote front pages of November 13 editions to highlighting the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings (Source: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) - Lao newspapers devoted their front pages of November13 editions to highlighting the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings,with a focus on appreciating the role of Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair in 2020, and ASEAN’sefforts to fight COVID-19 and boost economic recovery.
The Pasaxon newspaper - the mouthpiece of the LaoPeople’s Revolutionary Party - said that during the summit, chaired by Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc, ASEAN leaders hailed the implementation of the bloc’s prioritiesunder the role of Vietnam as ASEAN Chair, including intensifying intra-bloc solidarity,promoting the central role of ASEAN, and maintaining peace, stability, and cooperationin a rapidly-changing world.
It said that ASEAN leaders also lauded Vietnam’srole and affirmed that the country had contributed to enhancing the bloc’s unityand narrowing development gaps between member states.
The Vientiane Times quoted Lao Prime Minister ThonglounSisoulith as saying the summit that he greatly values ASEAN’s achievements and Vietnam’schairmanship.
He called on member countries to speed up effortsto acquire supplies for treating people with COVID-19, as well as vaccines, alongwith cooperating in economic promotion within the bloc.
Improved trade supply chains and assistance for micro-, small-, and medium-sizedenterprises (MSMEs) in obtaining financing and modern technology was also of majorimportance, he said.
Other priorities should include digitalisation andimproved supply chains for better connectivity through land, maritime, and air transport,to accelerate the supply of consumer goods, he added.
Meanwhile, the Setthakit Sangkhome newspaper highlightedthe approval of six important documents, including the Hanoi Declaration on a Post-2025ASEAN Vision, the Hanoi Declaration on the Adoption of the Initiative for ASEANIntegration (2021-2025), the ASEAN Declaration on Digital Tourism, and the Ha NoiDeclaration on Strengthening Social Work towards a Cohesive and Responsive ASEANCommunity.
Lao media also ran articles on other summits heldon November 12 within the framework of the ASEAN Summit, including the 23rd ASEAN-China Summit, the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 21st ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the 17th ASEAN-India Summit, and theASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit./.
VNA
