On the morning of 9 October 2024 at the National Convention Center, Vientiane, the Opening Ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits under the theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience” was convened and attended by H.E. Thongloun SISOULITH, President of the Lao PDR and H.E. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR and Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste and Spouses, Ministers and ASEAN Senior Officials of the three ASEAN Community Pillars, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Senior Official of Timor-Leste, Secretary-General and Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN, Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, Directors-General, Guests of Chair and Delegates.

 On this Ceremony, H.E. Thongloun SISOULITH, President of the Lao PDR extended his warmest welcome to the Heads of State/Government from ASEAN Member States and Timor – Leste and other delegates to Vientiane for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits. In his remarks, H.E. President highlighted and commended the achievements of ASEAN made throughout 57 years of the course of ASEAN Community building, which has significantly contributed to the maintenance and promotion of regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. Such achievements have created a conducive environment for the national socio-economic development of ASEAN Member States. H.E. President also expressed his sincere appreciation to ASEAN Member States, Dialogue Partners, External Partners and ASEAN Secretariat for their continued support and cooperation extended to the Lao PDR under the ASEAN frameworks and in carrying out ASEAN Chairmanship role, especially the ASEAN Chair for the third time in 2024. At the end of his remarks, H.E. President also extended his best wishes for the great success of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits.

At the end of the Ceremony, H.E. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, as the ASEAN Chair, underscored the importance of enhancing connectivity and resilience to strengthen ASEAN Community building and also presented the ASEAN Prize to the representative of ASEAN Youth Organization, which is a regional youth organization with its Committee in Indonesia that has contributed to promoting culturally diverse cooperation of the ASEAN youth and enhancing ASEAN identity among the youth in the region. 

The Lao PDR has assumed the ASEAN Chair for the third time in 2024 under the theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”. The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits are important and largest events in 2024, which will be convened in the next three days from 9 to 11 Oct 2024.