On 27 November 2023, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith of Lao PDR attended and addressed the opening ceremony of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Connecting ASEAN Events in Vientiane, which was co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and the Lao Embassy in Beijing.

Saleumxay conveyed his congratulations to the Events and appreciated the ACC for choosing Laos as the venue. He believed that the success of the Events will definitely promote regional connectivity, advance the Belt and Road cooperation with depth and width, promote the implementation of Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. Saleumxay also valued the positive role played by the ACC in promoting cooperation between ASEAN with Laos included and China on trade, investment, education, culture and tourism. 

Saleumxay stated that, at the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing last October, H.E. President Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos spoke highly of the BRI, which has brought about tangible results in the past decade. The BRI not only promotes regional development such as infrastructure development, interconnection, economic development and investment cooperation, but also draws on advanced science and technology, promotes social and cultural exchanges, deepens people-to-people exchanges, and nurtures mutual understanding and trust among the peoples. The Lao PDR has actively responded to the BRI and reaped in rich fruits. Together with China, Laos implemented the China-Laos railway project, the Laos expressway project and the economic corridor project, which have made positive contributions to Laos’ strategy of “changing a landlocked country into a land-linked country”.

Saleumxay expressed that Laos will continue to promote the synergy between the BRI and MPAC2025 efficiently, and will continue to support China’s new initiatives namely, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. He looked forward to China, as a comprehensive strategic partner of ASEAN, continuing to support the building of ASEAN community.

Saleumxay also expected the ACC to materialize more projects in the years to come and inject fresh vitality into the activities to be conducted under the framework of 2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges and Visit Laos Year 2024.