VIENTIANE: Laos has reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace, security and sustainable development as President Thongloun Sisoulith attended the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Azerbaijan.
The summit, held in Baku on Oct 15 under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, marked a milestone in Laos’ multilateral diplomacy following the unanimous adoption of a resolution admitting the country as CICA’s 29th member.
President Thongloun led a high-level Lao delegation to the summit, held under the theme “A Strong CICA: Connectivity, Digitalisation and Sustainable Growth in Asia”.
Addressing the gathering, President Thongloun reaffirmed Laos’ commitment to peaceful cooperation, mutual respect and dialogue as essential foundations for regional stability and development.
He said Laos’ accession to CICA reflected the country’s longstanding foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation, as well as its commitment to the principles of multilateral cooperation, respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
“The Lao PDR stands ready to work closely with CICA member states and observers to make a constructive contribution to the common goal of strengthening mutual trust and confidence, and of safeguarding and promoting peace and security for sustainable development in the Asian region,” President Thongloun said.
Laos’ admission brings CICA’s membership to 29 countries, with the grouping now covering approximately 90 percent of Asia’s territory and population, according to a press release.
Membership is expected to create new opportunities for Laos to strengthen cooperation with other Asian countries in key areas, including regional connectivity, trade, economic development, digital transformation and sustainable growth.
It also provides an additional platform for Laos to engage in discussions on regional security challenges, strengthen partnerships and contribute to efforts to build a more resilient and prosperous Asia.
During the summit, leaders exchanged views on regional and international developments and discussed future cooperation priorities.
Laos’ accession follows more than a decade of engagement with the regional mechanism.
Laos first participated in the 4th CICA Summit in 2014 as a guest of the chair before becoming an observer state in 2017. Since then, Laos has continued to participate in various activities under the CICA framework.
The latest development represents a further step in Laos’ efforts to expand diplomatic engagement and strengthen cooperation with regional partners.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Thongloun held talks with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the two countries.
The two leaders also discussed exchanges of high-level visits in connection with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Uzbekistan in 2027.
While in Azerbaijan, President Thongloun was interviewed on the television programme Formula of Power by journalist Mikhail Gusman, focusing on his official visit and Laos’ participation in the CICA Summit. - Vientiane Times/ANN
[Source: Department of International Organisations]
