On 9th June 2022, the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of the Lao PDR, Chair of the Network of East Asia Think Tank (NEAT) 2022 organized its working group (WG)meeting under the theme “Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Socio-Economic Recovery and Growth in the Midst of Pandemic” virtually via Zoom Platform.

Amb. Mai Sayavongs, Director-Generalof the IFA of the Lao PDR attended and delivered the opening remarksat the inaugural session of the WG meeting. The WG meeting was divided into two sessions under the above overarching theme moderated by Mr. Sonexay Vannaxay, Deputy Director-General ofIFA, NEAT Laos Country Coordinatorand Mrs. KaymanyOraboune, Deputy Director-General of the IFA respectively.

The WG meeting was attended by NEAT country coordinators and experts from NEAT member countries namely NEAT-China, NEAT-Indonesia, NEAT-Japan, NEAT-Korea, NEAT-Laos, NEAT-Malaysia, NEAT-Philippine, NEAT-Singapore, NEAT-Thailand and NEAT-Vietnam. The participants openly and actively shared their views and national experienceson how to cope with the pandemic. More importantly, they provided various practical policy recommendations for accelerating the process of socio-economic recovery and boosting economic growth in a sustainable, inclusive and resilient manner in the midst of the pandemic outbreakin East Asian region and beyond.

At the closing session, Mr. Sonexay Vannaxay, Deputy Director-General of the IFA, NEAT Laos Country Coordinator, on behalf of NEAT-Laos expressed his sincere thanks to NEAT country coordinators, NEAT experts and all participants for their active contributions, which helped the WG meeting to be adjourned with the fruitful outcomes.