VIENTIANE: Delegates from Asean member states and China reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties in science, technology and innovation, while attending the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22) in Vientiane on June 24.
Future developments in this field will focus on research, skills development, and technology transfer.
The meeting was chaired by Laos’ Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, Kingmano Phommahaxay, and China’s Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Lin Xin.
Kingmano expressed sincere appreciation to all Asean member states and China for their continued commitment to strengthening longstanding cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.
This year, as Chair of the AMMSTI‑22, Laos has adopted the theme of “Advancing APASTI for a Resilient, Sustainable and Competitive Asean”.
APASTI refers to the Asean Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation for 2026-2035. The blueprint is a major regional initiative designed to foster seamless collaboration, drive cutting-edge innovation, and build economic resilience among Asean member states.
This theme reflects the bloc’s collective aspiration to accelerate science, technology and innovation‑driven development, enhance regional resilience, and ensure that Asean remains competitive in an era of rapid technological transformation.
Kingmano noted that China has been a strong and reliable partner of Asean, contributing significantly to joint research, talent mobility, technology transfer, and innovation‑driven cooperation.
Concerning implementa-tion of the APASTI 2026-2035, the meeting was an important opportunity to review progress, identify new areas of collaboration, and strengthen the Asean-China commitment to building a dynamic and future‑ready science, technology and innovation ecosystem.
Discussions reaffirmed Asean and China’s commitment to advancing joint research, promoting talent mobility, and enhancing technology transfer between Asean and China.
These efforts will play an important role in supporting the implementation of APASTI 2026-2035 and in driving innovation‑led growth across the region.
Kingmano said the Lao government looked forward to continued collaboration with all Committee member states to build a resilient, sustainable, and competitive Asean through science, technology, and innovation. - Vientiane Times/ANN
