A conference focusing on narrowing the development gaps among ASEAN member countries opened in Vientiane on Feb. 1.
Attending the event were various Lao policy makers, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The project will be carried out in Laos as piloted by the Lao Government, the ASEAN Secretariat and JICA.
Lao Planning and Investment Minister Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune said that the project aimed at ensuring sustainable development and creating favourable conditions for environmental protection and rational use of natural resources.
Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said that new ASEAN members including Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Vietnam may share the results of the project.
He affirmed that it is impossible to build an ASEAN community if there is a great distance in development among its members.
He stressed the need of assistance from ASEAN dialogue partners including Japan, China, Russia and Australia.
Laos is a country with least pollution in the region and has plenty of natural resources.
The country attracted a substantial foreign investment in 2009 valued at 1.5 billion USD mainly in exploitation of natural resources./.
Attending the event were various Lao policy makers, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The project will be carried out in Laos as piloted by the Lao Government, the ASEAN Secretariat and JICA.
Lao Planning and Investment Minister Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune said that the project aimed at ensuring sustainable development and creating favourable conditions for environmental protection and rational use of natural resources.
Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said that new ASEAN members including Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Vietnam may share the results of the project.
He affirmed that it is impossible to build an ASEAN community if there is a great distance in development among its members.
He stressed the need of assistance from ASEAN dialogue partners including Japan, China, Russia and Australia.
Laos is a country with least pollution in the region and has plenty of natural resources.
The country attracted a substantial foreign investment in 2009 valued at 1.5 billion USD mainly in exploitation of natural resources./.
