Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos - The Opening Ceremony of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits

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The Opening Ceremony of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits

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The 28^th and 29^th ASEAN Summits and related Summits was officially opened in the afternoon of 6 September 2016 at the National Convention Center, Vientiane with the attendance of ASEAN Heads of State/Government, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, relevant Ministers, Secretary-General of ASEAN, invited guests, Delegations as well as local and foreign media.

In the Opening Ceremony, H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR expressed his warm welcome to ASEAN Heads of State and all delegates to Vientiane for the 28^th and 29^th ASEAN Summits and related Summits and expressed his sincere thanks to ASEAN Member States, Dialogue Partners, friendly countries and regional and international organizations for their continued cooperation and kind support extended to the Lao PDR as Chair of ASEAN 2016 under the theme “Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community”, which have been progressing well, especially the formulation of frameworks and development of ASEAN declaration for the adoption by the ASEAN Leaders at these Summits.

On this occasion, H.E. Bounnhang Vorachith, President of the Lao PDR officiated the Opening Ceremony of the 28^th and 29^th ASEAN Summits and delivered Keynote Address. The President highlighted the achievements of ASEAN over almost 5 decades, particularly the announcement of the ASEAN Community on 31 December 2015 and emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and external partners with the aim of strengthening and prospering ASEAN Community in accordance with ASEAN Way as well as the principles of ASEAN.

After the Opening Ceremony of the 28^th and 29^th ASEAN Summits, H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR continued to chair the 28^th ASEAN Summit and the Interface between ASEAN Leaders and Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, ASEAN Leaders and Representatives of ASEAN Youth, ASEAN Leaders and ASEAN Business Advisory Council, and officiated the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.