The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Bounnhang Vorachith, the President of Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Lao PDR’s strong Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2016, and for the ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change by Lao PDR.

He also discussed a country-specific SDG 18 on reducing the impact of unexploded ordnance in Laos, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Secretary-General and the President exchanged views on the importance of respect for human rights and providing necessary space for civil society.