Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and partners on October 11 attended the closing ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings in Vientiane, and the handover of the ASEAN Chairmanship from Laos to Malaysia.
An ASEAN summit takes place in Vientiane, Laos on October 10. (Photo: Kyodo/VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and partners on October 11 attended the closing ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings in Vientiane, and the handover of the ASEAN Chairmanship from Laos to Malaysia.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone summarised the results of 16 summits hosted by Laos as ASEAN Chair under the theme “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
The Lao PM highlighted the progress in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the results of implementing the nine priority areas under Laos’ ASEAN Chairmanship, which have contributed to the process of promoting a more cohesive and stronger ASEAN Community.
He stressed the importance of cooperation within ASEAN to ensure the continuity of the ASEAN community building process and welcomed the progress in developing strategic plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. These plans focus on all areas related to the ASEAN Community pillars and ASEAN connectivity.
Under the chairmanship of Laos, the plans aimed to build a strong, innovative, flexible and people-centred ASEAN community. He also informed about the preparations for Timor Leste to become an official member of ASEAN, as well as maintaining cooperative relations with partners.
The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related summits adopted more than 90 documents. This is the basis for sectors to organise and implement activities to make ASEAN more connected and stronger, towards a strong, innovative, flexible and people-centered community, contributing to the common mission of protecting and promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.
The Lao PM expressed his gratitude for the support, cooperation and contributions of ASEAN member countries, partners and the ASEAN Secretariat.
At the ceremony, Laos transferred the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025 to Malaysia starting from January 1, 2025./.
Led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Vietnamese delegation made significant contributions to all activities, conveying important messages about ASEAN and its future, affirming Vietnam's proactive, responsible, sincere, and friendly image, and promoting relations between ASEAN and its partners to serve the common goal of peace, security, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has highlighted the outcomes of the freshly-ended ASEAN Summits and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos from October 8-11, the Vietnamese delegation’s contributions and bilateral engagements with countries and partners.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, leading a high-level delegation of Vietnam, participated in the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) and 14th ASEAN-United Nations Summit in Vientiane on October 11 – the final day of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related events.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
