Foreign affairs officials discuss plans amid changing global environment

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday officially kicked off its 14th meeting, aiming to review and approve a new working plan to cope with the changing global environment.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith presided over the official opening ceremony of the two day-meeting at the International Cooperation Training Centre (ICTC) in Vientiane. About 500 officials including ministers, deputy provincial governors, ambassadors, Lao diplomats posted overseas and others from the ministry attended the event.

In his address, Mr Saleumxay said the meeting, which concludes today, is endeavouring to analyse the global situation, which may have direct and indirect impacts on national development as well as to discuss and approve the new working plan on foreign affairs for 2020-2022.
“The meeting aims to ensure that foreign affairs operations, which are taking place amid the rapid and complex change of the regional and global environment, can make significant contributions to the task of national protection and development in line with the Party and government policies as well as to welcome the 9th Party congress,” Mr Saleumxay was quoted in a media statement.
Mr Saleumxay said over the past three years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pursued the Party’s foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation, adding that one of the outstanding policy implementations included the protection of Lao sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also noted that with the guidance of the Party’s foreign policy, the ministry created a favourable environment as well as mobilised international support for the implementation of the Lao socio-economic development plan. 
At present, Laos has diplomatic relations with 143 countries with 40 embassy and foreign mission offices around the world. Of this number, there are 26 embassies, three permanent representative offices, 10 consulate offices and one general consulate office.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting with business people, aiming to foster cooperation between the two sectors in mobilising foreign investment in Laos.
During the meeting, some participants urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not just to focus on political cooperation with foreign nations but also to help attract international visitors and investment to Laos.
In addition to the meeting with business, the foreign affairs ministry also held a technical level meeting, hoping to improve coordination between different departments and Lao embassies overseas to ensure effective implementation of the foreign policy.
According to the meeting schedule, a Party and government leader would attend the foreign affairs meeting today to provide the Party’s foreign policy guidelines so the country can navigate rapid and complex global change.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 13, 2019)