ASEM to accelerate Lao integration into world community
ASEM to accelerate Lao integration into world community
The Asia-Europe Mee-ting (ASEM) Summit is an international event of considerable importance, and every time the conference takes place, it brings change to the world community and particularly to the country that hosts it.
At the 5th ASEM Summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2004, the conference welcomed the 10 new EU Member States of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia as well as three new Asean countries, those being Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
The 5th summit addressed regional developments in Asia and Europe. With regards to Asia, there was a discussion on recent developments in the multilateral regional framework following the 9th Asean Summit held in Bali in 2003, and developments in the Asean+3 dialogue between the Asean nations as well as China, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
As for Europe, the discussion was about the enlargement of the European Union and the new Constitution adopted by the EU.
Under international deve-lopments and new global challenges, leaders discussed how ASEM could contribute to a multilateral approach to international relations, in particular at the United Nations level.
The summit was also an opportunity to reaffirm ASEM partners' commitment to work together to tackle major international security threats such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In regards to economic matters, leaders looked at ways to promote the Asia-Europe economic partnership in the context of globalisation and trade regionalism. In particular, leaders discussed trade liberalisation and recent developments in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The issue of a possible Asian bonds market was also discussed, as well as the relationship between the business sector and governments in the ASEM framework.
The leaders also took forward the dialogue of cultures and civilisations and discussed ways to promote cultural diversity and national cultures in the age of information technology and globalisation.
The 6th ASEM Summit took place in Helsinki, Finland, on September 10 and 11, 2006. It was a historically significant event as it also marked the tenth anniversary of the ASEM Cooperation Forum.
The overarching theme of the summit was 10 Years of ASEM: Global Challenges - Joint Responses, reflecting the reality of an increasingly interdependent world.
The priorities of the Helsinki Summit were support for the multilateral international system and addressing security threats, including global health threats such as avian influenza.
Questions relating to energy security and climate change, support for a conclusion of the negotiations on the WTO, questions relating to globalisation, competitiveness and structural changes in the global economy were also on the agenda along with an intercultural dialogue.
The 6th ASEM also reviewed the 10 years of ASEM cooperation, one of the meeting's cross-cutting themes. The summit submitted proposals for further development of ASEM cooperation and moved to adopt the Helsinki Declaration on the future of ASEM.
Looking forward to today, the 9thASEM Summit which the Lao government will host at the end of this year will help to further improve relations between Asia and Europe, with one of the major focuses being on how to tackle the world economic crisis.
The summit will also bring significant change to Laos, especially in Vientiane, the host city. Vientiane has been changing already over the past several months as the government speeds up preparations to host the summit, which will take place from November 5 to 6.
Thanks to financial support from the world community, in particular from China, as well as cooperation from the private sector, including the Lao-Chinese joint venture of CAMCE Investment Laos, infrastructure in Vientiane is being improved to meet international standards.
CAMCE Investment Laos is building 50 luxurious villas on the Don Chan Mekong riverfront, to accommodate the visiting heads of state and leaders of the respective ASEM delegations. The real estate development project will enable Laos to host the largest international conference in the country and give delegates a good impression of Lao tourism facilities.
CAMCE Investment Laos plans to sell the villas to foreigners after the summit is over, after learning that the demand for luxury accommodation will increase after Laos joins the WTO at the end of this year and AFTA in 2015.
The Lao government expects to campaign for its WTO membership during the ASEM summit, as part of its efforts to attract more foreign investment.
International integration will help Laos to attract foreign investment, bringing not only funding but also technology to help speed up development, establishing a solid foundation for Laos to graduate from least developed country status by 2020.
CAMCE Investment Laos also plans to build apartments, commercial offices, a business centre and an entertainment centre in the precinct over the coming years. The project will help Laos to improve its tourism and economic infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of visitors and foreign investors once the country opens its market to foreign investment.
Laos has considerable potential to attract foreign investment in logistics and services as it is located in the middle of the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The country plans to transform itself from a landlocked nation into a land link. A high speed railway from China to Vientiane is on the agenda, as part of the China-Asean railway linking China to Singapore.
Laos also aims to develop more agri-business enterprises as the country has a large amount of fertile land that investors would like to utilise.
vientiane times
