Vientiane (VNA) - The fourth Meeting of Mayors and Governors of ASEAN Capital Cities opened in Vientiane on November 15 in Vientiane, Laos, focusing on the commitments and responsibilities of ASEAN capital 💛cities towards an integrated association.

Opening the ceremony, Vientiane Governor Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune said that the event will highlight the significant role and contributions of the cities to the building of the ASEAN Community. Participants will also reaffirm their commitments, while forming and reinforcing cooperation in various fields in line with the ASEAN Charter, he said. Meanwhile, capital cities of 10 ASEAN member countries will share experience and foster affiliation, focusing on making the cities worth-living areas of peace, green, attraction and prosperity, he said. They will also discuss public security of the cities, the preservation and promotion of heritage and tourism development, and partnership in improving workforce quality and mutual support among them, said Khoutphaythoune. The annual event was first held in 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Its objective is to build a forum for the cities to cooperate in three pillars of the ASEAN Community, including the Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Social-Cultural Community. Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Quoc Hung is leading a Hanoi delegation to attend the meeting.-VNA