Malaysia hands over Asean chair to Laos

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has handed over the chairmanship of Asean to Laos, having fulfilled its eight priorities as Asean chair for this year.

Yesterday, at the Kuala Lumpur Conven­tion Centre, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak handed over a gavel to Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong – a symbolic Asean tradition.

Najib described Malaysia’s chairmanship this year as an amazing and unforgettable journey.

“I am pleased to announce that Malaysia has successfully completed the two tasks set for ourselves during the assumption of the Asean chairmanship, which was to complete the action lines of the Roadmap for an Asean Community and develop the Asean Post-2015 Vision.

“Malaysia will extend its full co-operation and support to Laos as the incoming Chair of Asean in 2016 and will continue to play an important role in the community-building processes and integration beyond 2015,” he added.

Najib also said based on the extensive discussions held during the 27th Asean Summit, it was clear that Asean had prepared itself well in ushering the region into its new phase, in terms of co-operation in the three pillars of the community.

Leaders from 18 countries together with United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon had gathered here to deliberate on regional and international issues over the weekend.

Ten summits had taken place in two days – the 27th Asean Summit, the Plus One Summits with China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, as well as the United Nations, the 18th Asean Plus Three Summit and the 10th East Asia Summit.