Southeast Asian leaders, including Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, reaffirmed their commitment to bolster economic recovery and address issues facing the region when they met at the 42nd Asean Summit in Indonesia.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the summit on Wednesday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for ASEAN unity and economic integration and said the grouping should play a central role in regional peace and development.
“At the moment, the global economy has not fully recovered. Major power rivalries continue to sharpen. The global dynamic becomes more unpredictable,” Widodo said. With unity, ASEAN will be able to be a central player in bringing peace and development to the region, he said.