Vientiane, Laos - July 24, 2024

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states are seeing their economies recovering well from the global COVID-19 pandemic and remain focused on keeping growth on track, as ASEAN foreign ministers gather for the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Lao capital Vientiane.

Thanks to the economic recovery in ASEAN countries, growth in the 10-member grouping is expected to average about 4.5 percent this year, with Vietnam and the Philippines growing fastest, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Inflation has largely moderated following the pandemic, though in host Laos, inflation hit 30 percent in 2023 and remains high.

Overall, ASEAN is benefiting from having open economies, and being part of multiple regional and global free trade pacts.

Myanmar's economy, however, remains in a slump, which was on the agenda of the ASEAN meeting on Wednesday.

The ministers from the previous, current and next ASEAN chairs -- Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia -- discussed the so-called five-point consensus that aims to bring an end to the armed conflict in Myanmar and a return to civilian rule.

This week, ASEAN's ministers are expected to meet with their counterparts from countries including China, the United States and Russia to discuss issues like the crisis in Myanmar,

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Shotlist:
Vientiane, Laos - July 24, 2024:
1. Various of traffic, Patuxai, flags;
2. Various of National Convention Center of Laos, flags, fountain;
3. Various of interior of National Convention Center;
4. Sign showing "57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings";
Singapore - Recent
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs:
"ASEAN, I think it's nowadays among some of the most proactive promoter of free trade around the world. And all these ASEAN countries do this, not out of some altruism but because it's very important for their economy.";
FILE: Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Date Unknown
6. National flags of China, ASEAN countries;
FILE: Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Sept 15, 2018
7. National flags of ASEAN countries; flag of China-ASEAN Expo;
FILE: Labuan Bajo, Indonesia - May 11, 2023
8. National flags of ASEAN countries;
FILE: Bac Giang, Vietnam - Nov 2017
9. Vina Solar Technology exterior;
10. National flags of China, Vietnam, flag of Vina Solar Technology;
11. Various of production line of solar panel;
FILE: Yunnan Province, southwest China - Date Unknown
12. Various of containers, trucks at freight train station;
FILE: Laos - July 17, 2023
13. Various of trains moving;
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - July 19, 2024
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Azmi Hassan, senior fellow, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (starting with shot 15):
"Not much has been moving, it is very true. Yes, it really hurts ASEAN's image but again, ASEAN doesn't want to interfere in the internal matters of the members, but somehow or another regarding this Myanmar, they did interfere, so that demonstrates how ASEAN wants to resolve this particular issue.";
Vientiane, Laos - Recent
15. Traffic, Patuxai at night.

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