Laos Reaffirms Regional Cooperation at ASEAN STI Ministerial Meeting

The 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22) officially opened in Vientiane on June 26, bringing together ministers and senior officials from ASEAN member states to strengthen regional cooperation in science, technology and innovation. Prior to AMMSTI-22, the 7th Meeting of the ASEAN–Republic of Korea Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation (AKJSTIC-7) was held in Vientiane on June 24, where ASEAN member states and the Republic of Korea reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in STI. Furthermore, on May 15, the China International Press Communication Center held its first orientation meeting for Asia-Pacific journalists in Beijing, indicating China's intent to deepen STI cooperation with ASEAN. These developments reflect Laos's commitment, as the ASEAN chair, to fostering regional unity and development. Notably, progress in the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Investment Action Plan 2025–2030, which aims to attract foreign investment in green transition and post-pandemic priority recovery sectors, was welcomed. Under its one-party system, Laos is seeking to advance its economic development and international engagement, with its foreign and economic policies underpinned by its relationships with China and Vietnam. The strategy to enhance domestic industrial competitiveness and achieve sustainable economic growth through international cooperation in STI is a critical challenge for Laos in its current context. Source: KPL Laos News