LAOS

Efects of Laos being membership of ASEAN

Laos' Asean membership is the fruit borne from Laos's foreign policy that contributes to the building of peace, stability and cooperation for development in the region, the Lao Prime Minister stated.
The Lao PDR's accession to Asean on uly !", #$$% is the fruit of the implementation of state&s consistent foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship, and cooperation aimed at contributing to the building of 'outheast Asia as a region of peace, stability and cooperation for development.
This has created an environment conducive to the socio(economic development of Asean member states, including Laos.
Asean )as founded on August *, #$+% by the five Asean founding members, namely ,ndonesia, 'ingapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. Laos became a member of the association on uly !", #$$%.
The association )as founded )ith the ob-ective of maintaining peace and stability and
promoting cooperation for the prosperity of the 'outheast Asian nations, the premier
noted.
Asean has no) become a vibrant inter(governmental organi.ation setting for itself a
lofty goal of establishing an Asean /ommunity by !0#1 that consists of three pillars ( the
Asean Political('ecurity /ommunity, the Asean 2conomic /ommunity and the Asean
'ocio(/ultural /ommunity. The regional bloc also aims to strengthen its e3ternal
relations in )hich Asean centrality is preserved and recognised.
The Lao premier succinctly summarised the important achievements Asean has made
over the past years.
,n regards to political(security cooperation, Asean has been consistent in its efforts to
maintain and promote peace and stability in the region and the )orld at large,
enhancing political(security cooperation )ithin Asean and bet)een Asean and its
e3ternal partners.
Asean has concluded the negotiations on accession by the five 4uclear 5eapon 'tates
to the Protocol to the Treaty on the 'outheast Asian 4uclear 5eapons(6ree 7one.
,n terms of economic cooperation, Asean has made significant progress in the intra(
Asean economic integration as )ell as in the economic cooperation and integration
bet)een Asean and its e3ternal partners.

5ithin Asean, the establishment of the Asean 6ree Trade Area 8A6TA9, coupled )ith the
effective implementation of the Master Plan on Asean /onnectivity have contributed to
the process of the building of an Asean 2conomic /ommunity.
The ob-ective is to establish Asean as a single mar:et and production base, a highly
competitive economic region, a region fully integrated into the global economy and a
region of e;uitable economic development.
,n addition, Asean has also established economic cooperation )ith its dialogue partners
such as the establishment of the 6ree Trade Areas )ith /hina, apan, the Republic of
<orea, Australia, 4e) 7ealand and ,ndia, )hich has gradually forged closer economic
integration bet)een Asean and these dialogue partners. Asean has no) become a region
)hich en-oys relatively high and stable economic gro)th.
,n regards to socio(cultural cooperation, Asean is characterised by diversity in cultures,
languages and religions, but its member states live in peace and harmony )ith one
another. They cooperate for development and continue to -ointly implement cooperative
activities to establish the Asean 'ocio(/ultural /ommunity )hich aims at building a caring
and sharing society, promoting the fine national traditions and cultures of the respective
member nations.
The premier noted the active contribution of Laos to Asean activities and the benefits
Laos has gained since becoming a member of Asean.
Laos's profile in regional and international fora has been gradually uplifted. There has
been an increase in trade, investment, and foreign tourist arrivals in the country. ,t has
received technical support and assistance as )ell as help )ith human resource
development from Asean member states, dialogue partners and other e3ternal partners of
Asean.
Laos' successful chairmanship of Asean in !00=(!001 made the country's role
and capacity recognised by Asean nations and other countries as )ell.
'ubse;uently, Laos )as entrusted to chair and host various important regional
and international meetings.
,n 4ovember of this year, the Lao PDR )ill host the $ th Asia(2urope Meeting
8A'2M9 'ummit and in !0#+, Laos )ill assume the Asean chairmanship for the
second time.