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Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker has participated in the 9th ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting), in Vientiane, Laos
Bringing together more than 30 heads of state and governments, the summit with the theme "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity" began the formal accession of Bangladesh, Norway and Switzerland to the total number of partners (51) of ASEM. The economic and financial crisis and the responses to it were at the center of discussions.
Upstream of the summit, Prime Minister Juncker, accompanied by Luxembourg's Minister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Marie-Josée Jacobs, and the Minister of National Education and Vocational Training, Mady Delvaux-Stehres, had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Laos, Thongsing Thammavong. The two leaders stressed that "bilateral relations have evolved exponentially since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1997." Prime Minister Juncker, who was impressed by the development of Laos since his last visit in 2006, replied that Laos is not considered as a simple aid recipient by Luxembourg but he values the Lao-Luxembourg relationship in a logical partnership.
Relations in development cooperation with Laos, which is among the least developed countries in the world, are governed by the Indicative Cooperation Programme PIC 2011-2015 whose budget amounts to €50 million. In doing so, the Grand Duchy is one of the largest donors in Laos. Support from Luxembourg focuses on the areas of health, education and human resource development as well as integrated local development.
Jean-Claude Juncker told his interlocutor that the Luxembourg government will continue to support its development in Laos. Thongsing Thammavong, who expressed his gratitude and that of his people to the partnership with Luxembourg, noted that it has helped reduce poverty in the country and help to achieve the Millennium Development .
Laos relations with the EU and its recent accession to the WTO have also been on the agenda of the meeting, as was the situation of human rights.
After the meeting, the two leaders proceeded to the signing of an agreement to avoid double taxation between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Laos. According to Prime Minister Juncker, the signature shows that "our relationship has matured."
During the summit, Prime Minister Juncker also met the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Thein Sein. Both parties have agreed to strengthen relations between the two countries, both economically and in terms of development cooperation. Jean-Claude Juncker also referred to the recent economic mission of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce to Myanmar which resulted in very promising discussions.
In Vientiane, the Luxembourg delegation also met with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung. The meeting focused on bilateral relations, described as excellent by the two heads of government. They also discussed the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries which will be celebrated in 2013.
Concerning the relations of development cooperation, the current PIC expires in 2015. According to the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, it will not be renewed. The relationship between Vietnam and Luxembourg is to change to a different level of cooperation, in line with the level of development Vietnam has reached, and based on a partnership approach to trade and mutual interest, said Jean-Claude Juncker before stressing that "we remain present in Vietnam after 2015." Prime Minister Juncker also proposed his interlocutor to develop the relationship between universities and academic institutions in the two countries.
Accompanied by Ministers Delvaux-Stehres and Jacobs, and Ambassador accredited to Laos Marc Thill, Jean-Claude Juncker took advantage of his trip to Laos to visit a Luxembourg cooperation project. The Laos-Luxembourg laboratory was established within the Institute Pasteur in Laos, itself financed by Luxembourg Cooperation, under the direction of the Luxembourg Institute of Immunology (CRP-Santé), combining research and cooperation development.
Communiqué du Gouvernement (in French): http://www.gouvernement.lu/salle_presse/actualite/2012/11-novembre/05-Laos/index.html