Packed agenda awaits PM at Asean summit in Laos

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will join the 44th and 45th Asean Summits and related summits during Oct 8-11 in Vientiane, Laos.
The official visit to Laos will be the premier’s first bilateral visit to another country since she took on the top job, says the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
While she is there, she will hold bilateral meetings with Sonexay Siphandone, prime minister of Laos, and Xaysomphone Phomvihane, president of the National Assembly of Laos.
She will also pay a courtesy call on Thongloun Sisoulith, president of Laos and secretary-general of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
Ms Paetongtarn will discuss ways to enhance the Thailand–Laos Strategic Partnership for Growth and Sustainable Development, especially in economic cooperation, transport connectivity and tourism, and water resource management in the Mekong River. It is unclear if the recent floods will be raised.
Among other regional issues, she will also discuss tackling transboundary challenges such as drug smuggling, online scams, human trafficking, and the perennial haze problem and how both countries can help tackle it.
The prime minister will attend the summits under the theme “Asean: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”, the ministry said.
During the summits, she will participate in both Asean Leaders’ meetings and meetings with Asean’s Dialogue Partners, namely China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India, the United States, Canada and the United Nations.
Additionally, the premier will take part in Asean Leaders’ Interfaces with the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Asean Business Advisory Council, and Asean Youth, and the 2nd Asia Zero Emission Community Leaders’ Meeting.
Bilateral meetings with several other leaders have also been scheduled.