Security is tight in Vientiane ahead of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations ministerial meetings in Laos. Foreign ministers and delegates from ASEAN members  and other countries are expected to discuss regional and international matters in preparation for the Leaders' Summit in September.

Laos is the current chair of ASEAN and will be hosting a key security meeting later this month.  The South China Sea is expected to dominate discussions. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will fly in on Sunday for a series of meetings. He will meet with his counterparts from ASEAN, Japan and the Republic of Korea, as well as those of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.