Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone to Co-Chair ASEAN Business Session at Future Forum in Hanoi

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone will lead a high-level delegation to attend the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam on April 23, 2024. The forum, themed 'Towards Fast and Sustainable Growth of a People-Centered ASEAN Community,' will see Sonexay, representing Laos as the Chairman of ASEAN 2024, engage in discussions aimed at nurturing a cohesive and dynamic ASEAN business community in the digital era.

Sonexay will co-chair a session on harmonizing ASEAN's business sector with digital advancements, alongside prominent business leaders and research institutions. The business session will focus on optimizing development opportunities amid digital transformation in the region.

Nearly 400 delegates, including government leaders and ministers from ASEAN countries, as well as international scholars and experts, are expected to participate in the forum. High-level participants include Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Indonesian Foreign Minister, Brunei Foreign Minister, and the ASEAN Secretary-General.

The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 aims to provide a platform for ASEAN stakeholders, including governments, academics, and businesses, to share new and creative ideas that can contribute to ASEAN's strategy and vision. The forum will feature plenary sessions addressing topics such as nurturing a sustainable future for the ASEAN community, ensuring comprehensive security, repositioning ASEAN's central role, and seizing development opportunities in the Digital Age.

The forum will examine how to harmonize development, environmental protection, and climate change response while ensuring social security and placing people at the center of development decisions. It also aims to address issues related to economic cooperation, investment, trade, and digital transformation, with the participation of businesses.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone's participation in the forum underscores Laos' commitment to regional cooperation as the current Chair of ASEAN. The Lao leader will also hold a vital bilateral meeting with Vietnam's Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, to further strengthen the ties and collaborative efforts between Laos and Vietnam.

Key Takeaways

• Lao PM Sonexay to lead delegation to ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam on April 23, 2024.
• Forum to discuss harmonizing ASEAN's business sector with digital advancements, led by Sonexay and business leaders.
• Nearly 400 delegates, including ASEAN leaders and experts, expected to participate in the forum.
• Forum aims to provide a platform for ASEAN stakeholders to share new ideas for the bloc's strategy and vision.
• Event demonstrates Vietnam's desire to contribute to regional cooperation and promote its global role.