Phnom Penh: Mr. Sok Chenda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will lead a delegation to the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related sessions in Vientiane from July 24 to 27, 2024. This visit comes at the invitation of Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The theme for this year’s meeting is "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience," according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on July 22.

The meetings will serve as a platform to discuss ASEAN community-building efforts and innovative strategies to strengthen cooperation, aiming to create a more connected and resilient region for shared prosperity.

In addition to the main meetings, the Deputy Prime Minister will participate in separate discussions within the Mekong cooperation frameworks with the foreign ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea, as well as the Secretary of State of the United States of America.

While in Vientiane, Mr. Sok Chenda Sophea will join other ASEAN foreign ministers and the Secretary-General of ASEAN in a courtesy call on Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao PDR. The Deputy Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with various foreign counterparts to explore opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.