(KPL)The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce, responsible for the pillars of the ASEAN economy, hosted the 45th Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) on February 20-21, in Vangvieng, Vientiane Province, under the chairmanship of Mr Manothong Vongxay, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce.

Delegations of ASEAN Economic Integration, and Timor Leste ( an observer country), with the Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN and delegations from ASEAN member countries discussed and exchanged opinions so as to have recommendations on the policy of ASEAN economic integration for the 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat Meeting (AEM Retreat) which Lao PDR will chair and host the meeting in early March 2024.

The meeting was informed about the progress regarding the determination of the ASEAN Economic Priority Work Plan (PEDs) under the ASEAN Chairmanship of the Lao PDR in 2024, which covers three strategic groups: economic integration and connection; Creating a sustainable future and all parties joining; Transition to move into the digital future, there are 14 topics of the priority work plan to be proposed to the ASEAN economic ministers for consideration and adoption at the 30th AEM Retreat meeting.

The participants discussed on the draft of the ASEAN community vision strategy plan after 2025 (AEC-Post 2025), the implementation of work under the ASEAN economic pillar, especially the various initiatives in the development of the ASEAN region such as ASEAN Carbon Neutrality, Blue Economy and DEFA.

Mr Manothong expressed a warm welcome and informed about the special situation of the province and Vang Vieng, which is a beautiful natural tourist city in Lao PDR, as well as inviting high-level officials for ASEAN economic integration and the delegations who came to the meeting to visit various beautiful tourist sites in Vang Vieng.

He expressed his gratitude for the support of the ASEAN member countries, which will make Lao PDR's hosting and chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024 successful as expected.

There was also a meeting between the high-ranking officials for ASEAN Economic Integration and the ASEAN Economic Qualified Committee and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

KPL