Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao People's Democratic Republic, evoked threats to international peace and development such as the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, voicing support for the UN80 initiative, as well as making the Organization and its mechanisms more efficient through comprehensive reforms.  Reaffirming his country’s commitment to the “objectives of the UN”, he welcomed the outcome the High-level Meeting on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.  The Lao People's Democratic Republic “sincerely hopes that the long-overdue question of Palestine […] will be resolved through peaceful means,” he said, calling for greater international support for reconstruction to enable a “return to normalcy”.

“Drawing from our own experience, Lao People's Democratic Republic believes that war is never the answer,” he said, “and the only path toward resolving conflicts is through diplomatic means, mutual understanding, respect for sovereignty, and adherence to the principles of international law”.  He called for the lifting of the embargo on Cuba and the country’s removal from the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list — as well as the “elimination of all unilateral coercive measures imposed on sovereign countries”.  In its determination to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he urged greater support for his country’s “unique circumstances” with unexploded ordonnances — specifically through implementing the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The Lao People's Democratic Republic continues to meet the thresholds to graduate from its least developed country status.  It remains “firmly committed to fostering self-reliant capacity” through enhancing economic structures and developing human capital.  Welcoming the Awaza Programme of Action adopted at the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, he emphasized that his country has prioritized connectivity to change from a “landlocked, to a land-linked country”, notably through the Lao-China railway and the Lao-Vietnam international seaport in Vung Ang.

Turning to climate change, he called on the international community to redouble efforts on implementing the Paris Agreement and on climate-change adaptation.  He highlighted his country’s national strategy on climate change, noting that adequate financial support, technology transfer and capacity building will be required for its implementation.  “We call on the international community to fulfil its obligations, particularly by providing $100 billion annually to support global climate action and assist the most vulnerable countries” he said.