Vientiane: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane represented the Lao PDR on July 24 at the signing ceremony marking the accession of Poland, Lithuania, Romania, and Sweden to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). The accession of these countries increases the total number of States Parties to the treaty to 62, highlighting its significance as a framework for fostering peace, stability, and cooperation in the region. According to Lao News Agency, later on the same day, Thongsavanh led the Lao delegation to the High-Level Meeting of the States Parties to the TAC. This meeting was part of the events commemorating the treaty's 50th anniversary and included discussions on conflict prevention, maritime security cooperation, and regional challenges such as transnational crime, online scams, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and disaster response. The Lao delegation contributed to the session by delivering a statement on addressing emerging threats an d reaffirmed Laos' commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in tackling shared security challenges. Participants of the meeting emphasized the importance of the TAC as a cornerstone of ASEAN's regional architecture, underscoring its principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference, peaceful dispute settlement, renunciation of force, and cooperation for regional development. Ministers at the meeting also reaffirmed their dedication to resolving differences through dialogue and enhancing cooperation, aiming to promote lasting peace, security, and sustainable development across the region.