How will the ASEM Summit boost development in Laos?
How will the ASEM Summit boost development in Laos?
The real benefits from hosting the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit are to be found in the three pillars on which the organisation was founded, namely the spheres of politics, economics and socio-cultural development.
The first decade of ASEM partnership resulted in a broader political dialogue, stronger economic relations, more extensive cultural exchanges and a better awareness of the cross-dimensional issues affecting both regions, and has given rise to nearly one hundred collaborative initiatives.
ASEM has also helped Asia and Europe to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the other region.
This process has taken place at a time when ASEM embraced new members in both Asia and Europe, expanding the geographical coverage of the strengthened partnership.
In its second decade, ASEM will continue to fulfill its purpose of bringing Asia and Europe together to meet the many challenges and opportunities that exist in our increasingly globalised world.
The first ASEM Summit took place in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1996 but the first enlargement of ASEM members from 26 to 39 took place at the fifth summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2004.
The seventh summit took place in Beijing in October 2008, marking the second enlargement of ASEM members from 39 to 45. It took place after the start of the global economic crisis in the US.
The summit was attended by the heads of state and government of 16 Asian and 27 European nations, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary-General of the Asean Secretariat.
President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao addressed the opening ceremony. Leaders discussed and evaluated the development of situations in Asia and Europe, and agreed that the prevailing hope of the Asian and European peoples is promoting peace, development and cooperation.
The peoples of Asia and Europe are dedicated to dialogue and cooperation so as to enhance strategic mutual trust, create an enabling regional security environment and commonly address conventional and nonconventional security threats.
They supported the progress of the integration process of East Asia, Asean and South Asia, and welcomed the signing of the Asean Charter including the proposed creation of an Asean Human Rights Body and the delivery of the Asean Economic Community Blueprint.
They discussed the development of the European Union's integration process and acknowledged that since its inception, this process had promoted peace, stability and development in Europe.
The leaders at the seventh ASEM Summit called on developed countries to increase resources for development and fulfill the commitment of achieving the overall target of using 0.7 percent of their gross national income (GNI) by 2015 for official development assistance and raise aid effectiveness.
The eighth summit was hosted by Belgium in Brussels in 2010. The meeting was attended by heads of state and governments of 46 Asian and European countries, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary-General of Asean.
The overarching theme of the summit was “Quality of life, achieving greater well-being and more dignity for all citizens”.
Following up on the Beijing Declaration on Sustainable Development adopted at their meeting in 2008, leaders considered ways to further advance the common objectives of economic development, social cohesion and environmental protection, the three mutually reinforcing and interdependent pillars of sustainable development leading to greater human well-being.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), before stressing the need for reforms in response to the global economic crisis for a more sustainable model of development.
The summits in China and Belgium enhanced these countries' international prestige, and served to boost tourism, trade and investment.
The summits have created networks for the people of Asia and Europe to share their experiences and concerns about the circumstances of their countries.
The ninth ASEM Summit in November this year is very important for the host Laos. It will be the first time that an ASEM Summit is held in a least developed country, where the necessary infrastructure is not already in place.
The event will not only raise Laos' profile and reputation internationally, but will also serve to advance the development process.
Since Laos declared in 2010 that it would host the ninth ASEM Summit, construction of the necessary facilities to host the event has accelerated.
These include improvements to Wattay International Airport, and the construction of a national convention centre, the ASEM Villas, and roads.
The ASEM Villas is the first phase of the Vientiane New World project developed by CAMCE Investment (Lao) Co Ltd. The company is a joint venture between the Chinese state-owned enterprise China CAMC Engineering and the Lao Krittaphong Group.
The Vientiane New World project covers an area of 42 hectares and will cost more than US$600 million to develop, with construction expected to take 6-8 years.
The summit in Vientiane will give Lao civil society the chance to learn from others in Asia and Europe and apply lessons learned for the country's development.
The summit is expected to bolster trade, investment and tourism in Laos and generate income to help alleviate poverty in the country.
Today, all Lao people are proud to host the summit and are doing their best in terms of sprucing up the capital, maintaining security and so on to ensure the success of the event in November.
vientiane times
