PM pushes for multilateral cooperation, globalisation at Boao Forum  

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has underlined the need to uphold multilateral cooperation for shared interests and the important role of globalisation at the 2019 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference in China’s southern island province of Hainan.
The premier attended the forum, which ran from March 26-29, at the invitation of BFA Secretary General Li Baodong, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attended the meeting and delivered his opening remarks.
Delivering his speech yesterday at the forum under the theme “Shared Future, Concerted Action, Common Development”, the Lao premier said the theme is crucial and timely in the current global situation.

He stated that global circumstances are charging with complexity and uncertainty worrying the international community.
Peace, stability and security in many regions are shaken with mutual trust among global powers and countries in the world become sensitive.  Such issues have caused uncertainty in multilateral cooperation to protect stability.
Cooperation for shared benefits, which peoples across the globe need, is being questioned, PM Thongloun said.
The question arose if the world could move forward or backwards to the cold war era.
Underlining the need for cooperation and globalisation, PM Thongloun said the agreed consensus should be that opportunism, nationalism and protectionism are contrary to the popular trend of globalisation.
Globalisation is a path for opening up to each other giving an opportunity for bigger, smaller, developed and developing countries to benefit from the opening up policy. Through this process, the countries will access finance, technologies and other development aspects toward strengthening integration and connectivity.
All these will be an important engine for concerted action and development cooperation toward shared prosperity and a civilised future, the PM said.
Dubbed the ‘Asian Davos,’ the BFA has been held in the town of Boao, Hainan Province since 2001. It attracts leaders from government, business and academic institutions throughout Asia and beyond, who come together to share their thoughts on the most pressing issues in the region and the world at large.
The forum focused on the open economy, multilateral cooperation and innovation, according to Xinhua.
During the visit to the Chinese province, PM Thongloun held talks with Premier Li. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing further the comprehensive cooperative strategic partnership between Laos and China.
Laos has been an active participant in the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Both countries are constructing a railway, which is part of the initiative, connecting the Lao capital of Vientiane with the Chinese border over a distance of more than 400 km. Construction of the railway is slated to complete by 2021.     
PM Thongloun also held separate talks with Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Lee Nak-Yon, and Prime Minister of Luxemburg Mr Xavier Betel to enhance the bilateral friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and the two countries.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 29, 2019)