European Union says more to be done with Laos' summit preparations

Vientiane - The European Union is "quite happy" with Laos'preparations to host an Asia-Europe summit this year, but said more needs to be done, state media and diplomats said Friday.

An EU delegation visited Vientiane this week to assess the Lao government’s readiness to host the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) on November 5-6, the state-run Vientiane Times said.

"We are quite happy with the preparations, but there are some issues that need to be addressed," said Michel Goffin, EU charged’affaires to Laos.

The summit will be the largest international event ever staged by Laos, a communist country half the size of France with a population of about 6 million.

To prepare for the event, which will draw an estimated 4,000 delegates and journalists, the government has had to upgrade Vientiane’s Wattay International Aiport, build a convention centre, repave roads and construct 50 luxury villas for the visiting heads of state.

"We mainly worry about the lack of sufficient and suitable accommodation for delegates and journalists," a European diplomat inVientiane said.//DPA