Delegates at AIPA-42 (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – President of theNational Assembly of Laos Saysomphone Phomvihane delivered a speech at thefirst plenary session of the 42nd General Assembly ofthe ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-42) via a videoconference onAugust 23.
Expressing his support for the theme “Forging ParliamentaryCooperation in Digital Inclusion towards ASEAN Community 2025” of AIPA-42, Saysomphone said it will furthercontribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Digital Master Plan 2025 andASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APSTI) for 2016-2025.
Amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and otherdisasters in the region and the world, he highly appreciated the timelymeasures undertaken by ASEAN, notably the convening of the ASEAN Leaders’Meeting held in April 2021 in Jakarta, Indonesia, during which the ASEAN leadersreaffirmed their commitment to respond to the pandemic in a timely andeffective manner.
According to the Lao NA President, information and communication technologyis one of the fastest growing fields in innovative technological development inthis modern era, which plays an important role and serves as an essential toolfor effective and efficient governance, socio-economic development,international relations and others. It has also contributed to the joint effortof narrowing the development gap between developing and least developedcountries.
To this end, Laos developed a National Strategy onScientific and Technological Development (2013-2020) and Vision 2030, andintegrated them into the ninth Five-Year National Socio-Economic DevelopmentPlan (2021-2026).
At the same time, the Lao Government is concurrently workingon the drafting of a Digital Economy Development Strategy for 2021-2025 thataims to alleviate poverty, create economic equilibrium and enable the countryto integrate into regional and global economy. Laos has also put in place the NationalPolicy on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that aims to encourageorganisations and sectoral bodies within society to apply advanced technologiesto improve the efficiency of governance, public service and economic growth.
To realise a resilient and innovative ASEAN Community, AIPAmember parliaments must strengthen cooperation in science and technologyresearch and development, and enhance joint coordination with a view toensuring an equitable access to digital technologies for all in the society andpromoting public-and-private participation in this important endeavour, he stressed.
Importantly, it is a need to implement and synergise theASEAN Digital Master Plan 2025 and ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technologyand Innovation (APSTI) 2016-2025 with their respective national policies andlegislation, he added./.
