Provincial officials learn about Asean Community

VIENTIANE,MAR 02.(KPL) -Provincial officials are attending a seminar about opportunities and challenges ahead of the establishment of the Asean Community in 2015.
Presided over by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Alounkeo Kittikhoun, the seminar held yesterday in Sayaboury province was attended by some 70 officials from several northern provinces.
The seminar aimed to disseminate information about Asean cooperation efforts and the outcomes of the 17th Asean Summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam, last year, as well as the importance of the regional bloc and the benefits that Laos will gain from regional economic integration.
Despite complex changes in the global situation, Laos has insisted on enhancing Asean cooperation as a channel to communicate with the world and negotiate with powerful nations like China and the US.
During the seminar, Dr Khiene Phansourivong, Asean Department Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, briefed the participants about the progress of Asean cooperation initiatives and the outcomes of various Asean meetings.
The attendees also discussed coordination mechanisms between officials at the central and provincial levels to enable the government to respond to any situation regarding Asean cooperation and community building in a timely manner.
Laos is preparing itself to gain as much as possible from regional economic integration as the establishment of the Asean Community will mean the removal of all tariff barriers for Asean member states in 2015, although tariffs on some goods may remain until 2018. Sectors need to prepare themselves to ensure local products are competitive in the region. Laos became a member of Asean in 1997 and since then its role has been enhanced in the international arena.
Asean comprises 10 nations - Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.