The Lao People's Democratic Republic emphasized that the Mekong River, often referred to as the "mother of all rivers," is a vital waterway where many tributaries and smaller streams from various countries in the region converge. This makes the Mekong a river that connects the lives of people in Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. The Mekong River serves as a source of life and livelihood for hundreds of millions of people in this area.
In 2023, Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship theme was "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth." One of Indonesia's achievements was the adoption of the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework by ASEAN leaders at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. This framework aims to position the Blue Economy as a new engine for inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the region, aligning with Indonesia's own Blue Economy framework. Therefore, the series of Blue Economy activities organized by Laos with Indonesia's support represents a positive step to ensure the continuity of Indonesia's priorities and to keep the Blue Economy agenda at the forefront of ASEAN discussions.
