H.E. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, as the Chair of
ASEAN 2024, presided over the Closing Ceremony of the 44th and 45th
ASEAN Summits and Related Summits and the Handing Over of the ASEAN
Chairmanship to Malaysia, which was held on 11 October 2024 at the National
Convention Centre in Vientiane. The ceremony was attended by Heads of
State/Heads of Government of ASEAN and Timor-Leste, Foreign Ministers and ASEAN
Senior Officials, the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN,
Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, ASEAN delegations, and invited guests.
During the ceremony, H.E. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR briefed the attendees the outcomes of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, which consisted of 16 Summits in total hosted and chaired by the Lao PDR under the theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.” In this regard, Prime Minister Sonexay SIPHANDONE highlighted the progress made in implementing the ASEAN Vision 2025 and the successful implementation of the nine priorities of Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship which contributed to the strengthening of the ASEAN Community towards a more connected and resilient region. Additionally, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of ASEAN collective efforts to ensure the continuity of ASEAN Community building process and convey ASEAN Leaders’ appreciation on the progress in developing Strategic Plans to implement the ASEAN Vision 2045 by ASEAN bodies concerned under the three ASEAN Community pillars and the ASEAN Connectivity under the Lao PDR chairmanship. This Vision aims to build a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN Community. The Prime Minister also informed of the progress of Timor-Leste’s full membership in ASEAN and the strengthening of ASEAN’s external relations and cooperation.
The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits (16 Summits) adopted and noted more than 90 outcome documents and these document will serve as the foundation for further implementation by ASEAN sectoral bodies under the three community pillars with a view to building a more connected and resilient ASEAN, and moving towards an innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN Community, thus further contributing to the common cause of safeguarding and promoting peace, security, and development in the region and the world.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude for the support, cooperation, and contributions of ASEAN Member States, External Partners, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The Prime Minister also commended and thanked government officials, soldiers, police, businesses and all Lao ethnic groups across the country for their active contributions in accordance with their duties and responsibilities, which led to the successful conclusion of the Summits as well as the Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship.
At the end of the ceremony, H.E. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, handed over the ASEAN Chairmanship gavel to H.E. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair for 2025. The Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship officially ends on 31 December 2024, and Malaysia will begin its Chairmanship from 1 January to 31 December 2025.
