Lao PDR, 'Maris' joins the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting, emphasizing the promotion of connectivity, food security, finance, and public health. Mr. Maris Sengiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the 25th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting (APT FMM) in Vientiane, with the foreign ministers of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. Mr. Maris stressed the importance of and discussed ways to promote the APT as a concrete, specific cooperation mechanism to address regional challenges, pushing for connectivity, food security, financial cooperation, and public health cooperation. The meeting also discussed preparations for the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in October, as well as exchanging views on regional and international situations. On this occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also held bilateral discussions with Mr. David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, where both parties emphasized their intention to promote cooperation under the St rategic Partnership for maximum benefit for both parties, including negotiations for a Thailand-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to promote economic cooperation and increase the value of trade and investment between the two countries. Source: Thai News Agency