Laos Foreign Relations

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Steve Dowall

9:54pm Thursday 29 July

Laos Foreign Relations

The LPRP continues to promote Lao's integration on a broad international stage, but relations with Viet Nam still dominate the foreign policy agenda. The relationship with Viet Nam enshrined in the 1977 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which covers defence arrangements, delineation of the border and Vietnamese economic assistance to Laos, is the most politically important of Laos' bilateral relationships. China is also assuming a heightened profile and influence in Laos. Like Viet Nam, close relations with China are driven firstly by ties between the respective Communist Parties of both countries. The regional weight of China is also according the Chinese greater strategic influence in Laos in comparison with other neighbours.

Thailand is also an important bilateral partner and there are strong trade and investment links. Historical enmities and distrust, however as well as political differences, insurgent activity in border areas, illegal trade in narcotics and immigrant labour continue to complicate relations. Parts of the border with Thailand are still undergoing formal demarcation.

Relations with the United States have improved. There is cooperation on drug trafficking and missing persons issues. Parts of Laos, especially those areas deemed to be the "Ho Chi Minh trail", were heavily bombed and mined during the Viet Nam war. The United States, along with a number of other countries including New Zealand, have assisted with UXO (unexploded ordnance) and mine clearance work.

Laos is a member of the United Nations (UN), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Group of 77 at the UN (G77), Mekong River Commission (the Secretariat of which was relocated to Vientiane in 2004), Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM). In December 2004 Vientiane hosted the tenth ASEAN summit, as part of Laos' year-long stint as chair of the group. Laos has applied to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The first meeting of the WTO Working Party on the Accession of Laos was held in October 2004. The fourth meeting was held in July 2008, and good progress was made.

In 2008, Laos will host the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum.