Aug. 8 commemorates the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, reflecting on our ongoing journey filled with aspirations and achievements. For over half a century, ASEAN and Japan have continued to navigate heart-to-heart relations, shared commitments and equal partnerships in building the region’s peace and prosperity.
This year, the Lao PDR is chairing ASEAN for the third time. Laos’ chairmanship will focus on enhancing forward-looking connectivity and resilience by intensifying cooperation under ASEAN’s three community pillars. In conjunction, it will launch the Visit Laos Year 2024 tourism campaign, aiming to chart a sustainable path for the association’s tourism sectors. Under its leadership, significant progress is being made in developing the ASEAN Ecotourism Standard to highlight sustainable and inclusive tourism as well as regional connectivity as priority economic deliverables this year.
To prepare for this shift in advance, the ASEAN-Japan Centre hosted the Lao PDR Innovation and Investment Forum from Dec. 14 to 19, 2023, as a joint effort by the Laotian Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Japan External Trade Organization to drive cooperation on green energy and carbon neutrality between the ASEAN members and Japan. The forum coincided with the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, which was held in Tokyo to celebrate the 50th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
Connectivity is the cornerstone of economic growth and sustainable tourism. Moving forward , the AJC is pleased to be conducting activities in support of Laos. In October, the AJC will participate in the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in a parallel session exploring ASEAN’s new focus on sustainable energy solutions, providing our perspective through the lens of ASEAN-Japan relations.
Additionally, in line with the outcomes of the 27th meeting of ASEAN tourism ministers, the AJC will be conducting a program called the “Training of Trainers: Enhancing Digital Skills for Women in Tourism Communities,” which is scheduled to take place from Sept. 24 to 27. The aim of the program is to empower women in tourism communities across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam by improving digital skills with an emphasis on gender inclusivity in the tourism industry.
2025 will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos, a significant milestone in their long-standing partnership. It will also be an important year for ASEAN and the AJC.
Key documents such as the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 have played an important guiding role for our organization, and so will the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement, both expected to be concluded next year. These updates will serve to further foster an integrated ASEAN community and are well-timed to showcase the association’s ability to be a digital transformation leader in the era of borderless economic growth.
To this end, the AJC would like to renew our commitment to deepening the bond between ASEAN and Japan to achieve even brighter milestones together.
Wishing everyone a happy ASEAN day.
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