OP ED OPINION-EDITORIAL | Laos’ ASEAN chairmanship
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) and Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone shake hands on Sept. 7, 2023 during the handover of ASEAN’s presidency at the closing ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan/Pool)
Editorial board
(The Jakarta Post)
In welcoming Laos as the 2024 ASEAN chair, fellow member states should take real measures to not only help Vientiane realize its agenda, but also support its bid to boost the country’s tourism through its Visit Laos Year 2024 program.
This is the third time Laos is helming the 10-member trade bloc, after its previous turns in 2004 and 2016.
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Despite its smaller population and economic size compared with ASEAN’s founding nations, the region’s only landlocked country proved its mettle when it assumed the chairmanship in the past. However, it would be unfair to expect Laos to offer major breakthroughs that help the group solve its perennial problems, when big neighbors like Indonesia could not.
We are confident that Laos will address at least three major issues.
Jakarta ● Tue, January 2, 2024
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