8-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) In a diplomatic meeting on December 7, Singapore affirmed its commitment to supporting Laos as it prepares to assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The meeting between Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Saleumxay Kommasith, and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also marked the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations, slated for 2024.
The leaders engaged in discussions highlighting the shared focus on human development and the paramount importance of maintaining Asean centrality and unity during Laos’ upcoming leadership of the regional bloc. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who hosted Saleumxay for lunch, further discussed bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on ventures in renewable energy and the digital economy.
In a statement, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed that both leaders reasserted the warm relations between the two countries. They explored avenues to enhance cooperation, especially in sectors such as renewable energy and digital innovation.
Prime Minister Lee expressed gratitude to Saleumxay for Laos’ support of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR)-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project. This initiative, commenced in June 2022, has seen Singapore importing up to 100MW of renewable hydropower from Laos through a network involving Thailand and Malaysia. The project has successfully met the electricity demand of over 41,000 households in Singapore, importing 270 gigawatt hours of electricity as of end-August 2023.
Prior to his meeting with Prime Minister Lee, Saleumxay engaged with 19 senior Laos officials undergoing a month-long English language course in Singapore. English courses are a pivotal component of the technical assistance Singapore extends to Laos, with more than 120 senior Laotian officials participating in such programs over the past two decades.
Singapore’s commitment to Laos extends beyond language courses. In 2022, Prime Minister Lee announced an enhanced cooperation package to support Laos’ 2024 Asean chairmanship, including courses in report writing and public presentation skills.
Laotian official Bounmy Chounlachak, a participant in the program, expressed optimism about the course’s impact on her English proficiency and confidence in interacting with other English speakers.
Saleumxay expressed Laos’ gratitude for Singapore’s support, acknowledging its significant contribution to Laos’ socio-economic development. He highlighted the importance of such initiatives in nurturing human resources, particularly among senior government officials who are poised to become future leaders of Laos.
Earlier in the day, Saleumxay delivered the 24th Asean Lecture at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, outlining Laos’ priorities during its chairmanship. These include a focus on digital transformation, environmental cooperation, and advocacy for women and children. Saleumxay acknowledged the challenges posed by geopolitical rivalries, climate change, and the uneven post-pandemic recovery across countries.
Regarding the Myanmar crisis, Saleumxay expressed realism, stating that a full resolution during Laos’ chairmanship was unlikely. He emphasized the commitment to the Five-Point Consensus adopted by Asean leaders as an ongoing process towards addressing the crisis sparked by a military coup in February 2021.
