Laos 20241016: Prudent, Linked, Growing
Mekong Memo Laos Weekly: Business, politics, finance, trade & legal news.
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Headlines:
ASEAN Summit Draws Global Media (Complaints)
Laos Upgrades Border Checkpoint with Loei
ASEAN Summits Conclude with Agreements
Celebrations as Mahosot General Hospital Opens
Malaysia Explores New Lao Opportunities
International Cooperation: IN, JP, US
Educators Address Rural Learning Challenges
EU Calling for Stronger ASEAN Partnership
Quang Tri Infrastructure for Lao Coal
Korean Greenhouse Gas Reduction Project
Beauty Pageantry In Growing Cultural Influence
ASEAN Summit Draws Global Media (Complaints)
The 2024 ASEAN Summit in Laos attracted substantial media attention, with (for example) more than 2,000 delegates attending discussions on Myanmar's conflict and the South China Sea disputes. Leaders from across Southeast Asia, alongside global representatives, tried to address issues such as regional security and economic resilience. The summit also addressed ongoing efforts to manage the Myanmar crisis, with countries like Thailand proposing new approaches, while also emphasizing the importance of unity and cooperation in the face of geopolitical tensions. Several journalists reported that they felt hamstrung by restrictions on talking with the public and lamented the fact that they largely needed to file their reports based on information provided on official handouts due to restrictions on their movement.
Read more: RFA
Laos Upgrades Border Checkpoint with Loei
The Ban Vang Local Checkpoint in Vientiane Province has been upgraded to international status, connecting Laos to Thailand's Loei Province. Operational since 1993, the checkpoint is opposite Thailand's International Checkpoint in Loei Province. The upgrade is expected to ease travel and trade in support of economic and social development on both sides of the border.
Read more: Laotian Times
ASEAN Summits Conclude with Agreements
The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane came to a finish with more than 90 outcome documents inked on regional security, economic cooperation, sustainable development, and digital transformation. Leaders endorsed plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and reaffirmed commitment to resolving the Myanmar crisis. The summits also were an opportunity to refresh relations with partners outside ASEAN, including China, South Korea, India, and Canada.
Read more: Laotian Times
Celebrations as Mahosot General Hospital Opens
China and Laos celebrated the inauguration of the China-aided Mahosot General Hospital, the biggest and most advanced medical facility in Laos. The hospital, built as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, will go a long way to improving medical services and training in Laos. The ceremony was heavy on reinforcing deepening ties between the two nations, with both leaders claiming commitment to further cooperation and shared development goals, to the benefit of China-Laos relations.
Read more: People's Daily
Malaysia Explores New Lao Opportunities
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced Malaysia's commitment to exploring new business opportunities in Laos. The focus areas include defense, banking and finance, education, tourism, and human resources. Malaysia welcomes the ASEAN Express Train connecting Malaysia and China through Thailand and Laos, potentially increasing inter-ASEAN trade. The country also pledges to provide training courses for capacity building in Laos. Malaysia will be taking the chair of ASEAN from Laos beginning officially January 1, 2025.
Read more: Bernama
International Cooperation: IN, JP, US
India and Laos signed agreements on defense, customs, and cultural preservation, including projects tied to the Lao Ramayana and UNESCO sites. Japan and Laos shored-up their strategic partnership, focusing on progress in trade, clean energy, and humanitarian aid. The U.S. has expanded its support in health, education, and law enforcement.
Read more: Tribune (India), Asia News Network (Japan), State.gov (US)
Educators Address Rural Learning Challenges
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Community Education Development hosted a seminar in Vientiane to improve access to quality education in rural areas. Educators from six countries discussed solutions to challenges like global citizenship education, environmental health concerns, and climate change impact. The event was centered on education's role in development and reducing inequality in underserved regions.
Read more: Laotian Times
EU Calling for Stronger ASEAN Partnership
At the ASEAN summit in Laos, the EU is pushing forward for strategic partnerships with Southeast Asia, emphasizing trade and investment opportunities. With US and Chinese leaders absent, European Council President Charles Michel engaged with ASEAN nations on issues ranging from economic collaboration to regional security. Bilateral trade between the EU and ASEAN reached €270 billion in 2023, and the EU continues to invest heavily in the region. Tensions over the South China Sea and Myanmar remained unresolved at the summit.
Read more: DW
Quang Tri Infrastructure for Lao Coal
The Vietnamese province of Quang Tri is building out infrastructure to support coal transportation from Laos through the La Lay International Border Gate. The project will play an important role in facilitating coal exports, hopefully contributing to regional growth.
Read more: Vietnam+
Korean Greenhouse Gas Reduction Project
South Korea and Laos have signed an MOU to work together on a large-scale greenhouse gas reduction project under the REDD+ initiative. The agreement is centered on preventing deforestation and improving sustainable forest management across 1.5 million hectares in Laos' Phongsaly Province. Both countries hope to meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets through the establishment of a joint support center and the promotion of forest protection activities, community engagement, and capacity-building projects.
Read more: BusinessKorea
And now for something completely different.
While the focus of The Memo is on news for business, we often wrap with a less business-focused article.
We debated on closing out this week with this article on excavations providing insights into early human activity in the jungles of Laos, thought this pictorial of Vientiane was worthy of mention, and were happy to see mental health issues getting some press (also here), but ultimately thought the story of the rise of pageantry interest would be most broadly appealing:
Beauty Pageantry In Growing Cultural Influence
Beauty pageants in Laos, long popular, have transformed from local traditions to international megaevents, fueled by growing interest in events like Miss Universe Laos. While the pandemic brought a stop to pageants temporarily, recent years have seen a resurgence, with Lao contestants like Payengxa Lor gaining recognition abroad. Language barriers and cultural shyness are still holding back many potential participants, organizers also face financial and bureaucratic hurdles and minimal government support, but despite these obstacles, pageants are reportedly reshaping Lao society by promoting leadership and representation of local women.
Read more: Laotian Times
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
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