On September 17 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the “Seminar on the Preparations for the LAO PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2016,” supported by the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) and the U.S. Embassy to the Lao PDR. Lao government officials from 15 ministries and organizations attended the meeting held in Vientiane Capital.
Mr. Chatoulong Bouasisavath, Deputy Director-General of ASEAN Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Michael Toyryla, First Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs at the United States Embassy in Vientiane gave opening remarks. Mr. Toyryla highlighted the opportunities for Lao PDR during its ASEAN Chairmanship and the strong relationship between the United States and the Lao PDR.
This is one of a series of ongoing U.S.-supported seminars and trainings to be held in 2015 supporting Lao PDR’s upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN in 2016. Through these seminars the United States continues to show its support to Lao PDR as it seeks a successful year as the ASEAN chair.
