Laos
Introduction
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic, or Laos, is a politically stable and peaceful landlocked country in Southeast Asia, centrally located in the Mekong sub-region. The country occupies about 236,800 square kilometers and almost half the length of the Mekong River that flows through it. It is bordered by China to the north, Myanmar and Thailand to the west, Cambodia to the south and Vietnam to the east. The country has a tropical monsoon climate with a rainy season from May to October. Temperatures range from highs of 40°C along the Mekong River in March and April to lows of 5°C in the high mountains in January. (The World Fact Book) Most of Laos is covered by mountains and dense forests and its population density is among the lowest in Asia. Laos has a population of about 5.6 million, comprising 47 ethnic groups.
Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, or the Land of a Million Elephants, founded in the fourteenth century by King Fa Ngum, who also introduced Theravada Buddhism to the country. Laos was incorporated into French Indochina in the 19th century and later briefly came under Japanese occupation during World War II. The country gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy in 1954. The Lao monarchy ended in 1975 with the foundation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Economic conditions
Lao society is rural and subsistence agriculture accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80% of employment. Rice is the primary crop, grown on about 80% of Laos’ arable land. Laos received development aid from the International Monetary Fund, Asia Development Bank and other international sources. Agricultural production and most manufacturing production are mostly conducted by the private se...
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...g of Legal Acts” passed by the Lao National Assembly in July 2012 and promulgated in August 2012, which addresses the broader transparency and accountability issue by requiring, among other things, proposed laws to be published online for at least 60 days for public comments.
Politics
Laos is ruled by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the only legal political party in Laos. Government policies are determined by the LPRP through the 11-member Politburo and the 50-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the Politburo. The National Assembly, which is elected by the people from a list of candidates approved by the LPRP, meets twice a year and is responsible for approving all new laws. In 1986, Laos introduced comprehensive economic liberalization policies which subsequently led to the country’s admission to ASEAN in 1997.
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