Kuala Lumpur, 23 September 2025: On the sidelines of the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) and Related Meetings, ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR.

Both leaders reflected on the close collaboration during Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024 and reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining this partnership. Discussions focused on future cooperation in areas such as the energy transition and industrial development, as well as on ways in which ERIA can further contribute to strengthening the ASEAN Economic Community.