Vientiane, Laos - October 08, 2024

The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states met on Tuesday in the Lao capital Vientiane, ahead of the three-day talks between leaders of ASEAN and its dialogue partners including China and the United States.

The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits are underway in Vientiane from Oct 8 to 11, bringing together some 2,000 delegates and about 1,000 journalists from Laos and other countries.

The meetings are held against the backdrop of big global security worries, but also an upbeat economic outlook for Southeast Asia. As a major trading bloc, ASEAN is particularly sensitive to global economic shocks.

ASEAN has evolved into a highly integrated economic community and has further boosted its connectivity through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade deal.

The region is projected to achieve a growth rate of around 4.5 percent this year, demonstrating a strong momentum of resilience.

Shotlist:
Vientiane, Laos - Oct 8, 2024:
1. Various of National Convention Center, flags;
2. ASEAN flag;
3. Foreign ministers of 10 ASEAN members and East Timor, observer of organization, as well as ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn posing for family photos;
4. Meeting in progress;
5. Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of ASEAN, at meeting;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Saleumxay Kommasith, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (ending with shots 7, 8):
"ASEAN concerted effort is needed to respond proactively and effectively to these challenges with a view to maintaining and promoting regional and global peace, stability and prosperity, as well as to maintaining ASEAN relevance and centrality.";
7. Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at meeting;
8. Various of meeting in progress;
9. Hall outside meeting room;
FILE: Vientiane, Laos - Date Unknown
10. Aerial shots of cityscape;
FILE: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Dec 2020
11. Aerial shot of city view;
12. Malaysian national flag;
FILE: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 2023
13. Cityscape; traffic;
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Recent
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Prof. Yeah Kim Leng, senior fellow and director of Economic Studies Programme at Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University:
"There's greater purchasing power because of sustained growth of 4-5 percent. A large part of it is also attributed not just to the consumption growth but also importantly, rising investment, and of course the influence of foreign direct investments. All these are actually spurring a lot of potential for the region.";
Vientiane, Laos - Oct 8, 2024
15. ASEAN flag (L), Lao national flag (R);
16. Various of security guards patrolling, fountains, flags outside convention center.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]