G20 china_web

Leader's view
Bounnhang Vorachith
President, Lao PDR
GUEST LEADER'S VIEW
Empowering
Southeast Asia with
help from the G20
Mutual assistance and support will lead to
global benefits, writes Bounnhang Vorachith
Guest leader
2016
Elected
I
n my capacity as the chair of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) for 2016 and on behalf of the
Government and people of the Lao PDR, I
feel honoured to be invited by Xi Jinping,
President of China, to participate at the G20
summit this year. I believe that because of
the efforts of the government and the people
of China, this G20 summit will be crowned
with success.
Economic growth
The 11th G20 summit will be held at a time when
the global and regional economies are facing
various challenges. All countries, including
the members of the G20, are required to join
hands and support each other in order to
cope with them.
I am confident that the outcome of this
G20 summit, held under the theme “Towards
an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected
and Inclusive World Economy”, will
contribute greatly to the efforts made by
the international community to maintain
the stability and sustainability of global
economic growth.
For ASEAN in particular,
2016 is the first year of
the establishment
of its economic
community
moving
towards
regional
integration
and maintaining sustainable economic growth.
This is consistent with an objective of the G20.
ASEAN and the G20 are considered forums
that can empower mutual assistance and
support each other in attaining their respective
goals. ASEAN is ready to work closely with
China, as well as other G20 members and other
participating countries, to ensure the success
of the summit. We share a mission to maintain
peace, stability and prosperity.
The Government of Lao PDR attaches high
importance to the strengthening of its friendly
relations and sound cooperation with all
countries in the world, including the members of
the G20. Lao PDR also highly values the bilateral
and multilateral assistance extended by the G20
to implement our socioeconomic development
plan with the aim to attain the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals.
Helping developing countries
Lao PDR is considered one of the least-developed
countries (LDCs) and has set a goal to graduate
from this status by 2020.
I would like to commend China and other
members to adopt the G20 plan of action on the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and
the G20 initiative to support the industrialisation
in Africa and LDCs by means of providing
assistance and strengthening growth potential
and exchanging lessons and experiences. I
believe that prompt and effective implementation
of G20 initiatives will help developing countries
to overcome challenges of globalisation and bring
more tangible benefits. G20
38 G20 China: The Hangzhou Summit • September 2016G7G20.com