With great honor and deep pleasure, on behalf of the National Assembly and people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) allow me to extend my heartfelt welcome to distinguished speakers/presidents of ASEP Member Parliaments and fellow parliamentarians heading to Vientiane, the Capital of Lao PDR to attend the Seventh Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting from 3-4 October 2012.

The seventh ASEP meeting will coincide with intensive preparations toward the 9^th Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM) to be held on 5-6 November 2012 in Vientiane Capital. I strongly believe that the outcome of the ASEP meeting will duly enrich the deliberation of ASEM with representative view of peoples of our two continents. 

 I firmly believe that the ASEP-7 meeting will be yet another important milestone for ASEP member parliaments to effectively foster cooperation between the two regions. 

 I look forward to warmly welcoming the Leaders of member Parliaments from Asia and Europe and their delegations to Vientiane and to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, characterized by its unique historical and cultural heritage.