At a gala party hosted by Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on October 10, most male guests opted for bright white dinner jackets.
Despite the risk of red wine spills, attendees enjoyed the evening with clinking glasses, delicious food, and graceful dancers in elegant costumes.
Siphandone raised a toast to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region, mingling with VIPs like U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also attended but had a low-key presence, only meeting with senior politicians from Laos, not the prime minister.
Laos, as the current ASEAN chair, hosted the annual summit from October 6 to 11, attracting leaders like Japan’s Ishiba Shigeru and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Premier Li Qiang of China highlighted Xi Jinping’s vision for a modern socialist country and emphasized cooperation for a shared future with Southeast Asian partners.
European Council President Charles Michel advocated for liberal democracy and capitalism as a model for Southeast Asian nations, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted historical trade routes and presented Buddha statues to Laos leaders.
In a series of ASEAN-related summits, world leaders discussed economic growth, security cooperation, and regional stability with a focus on Southeast Asia as a key strategic area.
Modi underscored India’s Act East policy, aiming to strengthen ties with ASEAN nations through trade, investment, and security partnerships.
Challenges in the South China Sea were addressed by Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., urging ASEAN unity against China’s aggressive behavior in the region.
Summit discussions also touched on investment, climate change, security, and regional cooperation, with leaders like Japan’s Ishiba and South Korea’s President Yoon advocating for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
While Xi Jinping held a separate event in Beijing, Li Qiang represented China at the Laos meeting, promoting closer economic ties and common prosperity between China and ASEAN countries.
Li encouraged collaboration on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, despite concerns about debt and sovereignty issues raised by some economists.