Illustrative image (Source: thediplomat.com) Vientiane (VNA) – A ceremony was held in the Lao capital city of Vientiane on December 30 to welcome the establishment of the ASEAN Community (December 31, 2015).
Addressing the event, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said the formation of the ASEAN Community is the result of strong political commitments, close cooperation within ASEAN as well as between the bloc and partner countries over the past five decades through a range of initiatives, plans and action programmes.
Since its inception in 1967, the ten-member group has attained great achievements, the Deputy PM said, noting that ASEAN residents have enjoyed peace, stability and prosperity.
As of December 31, ASEAN officially becomes a market and a united production facility. With a population of 622 million and gross domestic product (GDP) at 2.6 trillion USD, ASEAN will become the world’s seventh largest economy, he said.
Deputy PM Thongloun Sisoulith described 2016 as important since the year marks the engagement of ASEAN member countries in a common community and the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the three-pillar plan.
Laos has selected the slogan "Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community” for the group in 2016 when the country assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship.-VNA
