PM Sonexay Siphandone honoured with distinguished ASEAN Leader Award

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has been awarded the prestigious “Distinguished ASEAN Leader Award 2024” in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of Laos and his leadership within the ASEAN community, particularly during Laos’ chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024.

Dr Sonexay Siphandone receives the Distinguished ASEAN Leader Award.

The award was presented during the ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum 2024, taking place in Vientiane, where Mr Tan Sri Majid Khan, President of the Asia-Pacific Strategic Institute, presented the award to Dr Sonexay.
The Distinguished ASEAN Leader Award is a significant accolade given by the Asia-Pacific Strategic Institute to recognise the exceptional achievements of ASEAN leaders in fulfilling their duties and advancing regional cooperation.
In his acceptance speech, Prime Minister Sonexay expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Asia-Pacific Strategic Institute and the ASEAN Economic Club for bestowing this honour.
“This award holds deep significance as it acknowledges the vision and leadership required to guide our nations toward development, while considering the unique economic trajectories of each ASEAN member state,” the Prime Minister said.
He observed that the award not only reflects his personal efforts but also serves as a testament to the collective contributions of the Lao people toward the nation’s progress and the strong partnerships fostered within ASEAN.
He further noted that the award symbolises the achievements of the Lao people in advancing national development, strengthening regional cooperation, and building a connected, resilient, and sustainable ASEAN community.
The ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum 2024, held under the theme “ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience of Growth”, convened key leaders from government, business, and academia to discuss pressing issues and future trends facing the region.
As ASEAN continues to recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic, the forum underscored the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and resilience in the face of global economic challenges.
Under Laos’ chairmanship, the forum has sought to drive discussions on ASEAN’s future direction, focusing on economic integration, digital transformation, energy transition, and sustainable development.
The forum’s opening session featured a welcome address by Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, Chairman of the ASEAN Economic Club and President of the KSI Strategic Institute for the Asia-Pacific.
He lauded the resilience demonstrated by ASEAN nations in overcoming recent global challenges and reiterated the importance of regional cooperation.
“As we gather here, ASEAN stands at a crossroads of challenges and opportunities,” Tan Sri Michael Yeoh said.
“Our unity and cooperation will be our greatest strengths as we navigate these turbulent times. Enhancing connectivity and resilience will be key to driving our region’s growth and sustainability.”
The ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum 2024 continues with sessions dedicated to addressing ASEAN’s centrality, economic integration, and the role of digital transformation in shaping the region’s future.
This year’s award follows a similar recognition given to President Thongloun Sisoulith in 2019, who was honoured with the Distinguished ASEAN Leader Award for his enduring contributions to the region.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 18, 2024)