(REUTERS) Laos is set to welcome world leaders ahead of an annual summit as it increased security on the streets of capital Vientiane on Monday (September 5).
The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asia Nations) and East Asia Summit (EAS) will bring together leaders from the 10-nations regional bloc and their dialogue partners like United States, China, Russia, Japan and Australia to discuss international issues in a three-day meeting.
Topics such as South China Sea disputes, counter-terrorism, trade and human rights are expected to be top of the agenda.
Along with around the clock security in the capital city, the Laotian government announced this week as a public holiday.
“It’s really quiet around here while the country is hosting the meetings as most people avoid coming into the city,” said a local baguette vendor, Goh Hin.
U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to be making his last trip to an ASEAN meeting as a head of state.
“I’ve only seen him (Barack Obama) on the television, never seen him in flesh. But I’m really happy that he is coming here,” said 56-year old Bounchan Vorivongxay.
Obama is expected to be making the last push of his presidency to ‘rebalance’ Washington’s foreign policy toward Asia, a strategy widely seen as a response to China’s economic and military muscle-flexing across the region.
