Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be attending this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos, from Wednesday to Saturday. This will be his first multilateral meeting with leaders of other countries since taking office in May. After the summits, Mr. Wong will also have an official dinner with Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
As Minister for Finance, Mr. Wong will lead the Singapore delegation to the 44th and 45th ASEAN summits and related meetings. The focus of these meetings will be on reviewing the bloc’s community-building efforts and exploring new opportunities for people and businesses, particularly in areas such as the digital and green economies. The aim is also to strengthen ASEAN’s role in creating an open, inclusive, and stable regional architecture.
The theme of Laos’ chairmanship, “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”, emphasizes the region’s commitment to enhancing unity and resilience in the face of geopolitical and economic challenges. Mr. Wong and his counterparts will discuss ways to further expand ASEAN’s engagement with various world leaders at the upcoming summits. There will be discussions on enhancing connectivity and forging stronger partnerships with countries such as Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
One of the key areas of focus at the summits will be on expanding cooperation in new growth areas such as the digital and green economies. This reflects the growing importance of these sectors in driving economic growth and sustainable development in the region. The leaders will also look at ways to increase collaboration in these areas and create opportunities for businesses and individuals to thrive in the evolving economic landscape.
During the summits, Mr. Wong and other leaders will also discuss ways to strengthen ASEAN’s role in the broader regional architecture. This includes enhancing cooperation with partners in the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Plus Three Summit, and other dialogues with countries such as Australia, Canada, and Japan. The meetings will provide a platform for ASEAN to engage with these partners and work towards shared goals of regional stability and prosperity.
As part of Singapore’s role in coordinating dialogue between ASEAN and Japan, the ASEAN-Japan Summit will be a key event during the meetings. This summit will be the first under Singapore’s three-year term as the country leading the coordination efforts between ASEAN and Japan. The discussions at this summit will focus on enhancing cooperation and deepening ties between ASEAN and Japan in various areas of mutual interest. Overall, the summits in Vientiane will provide a valuable opportunity for regional leaders to come together, discuss key issues, and work towards a more integrated and prosperous ASEAN community.
