Rare focus on little-known Laos as it hosts major summit

Performers rehearse their number prior to the opening of the 10-member ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting in Vientiane

The three-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations shines a rare spotlight on the landlocked nation of Laos, which usually stays under the radar. Along with Brunei, it is the most under reported and under-scrutinized country in the 10-nation ASEAN.
Unlike fellow communist country Vietnam, the country of 6.2 million people is no economic beehive of activity. Nor does it have a democracy icon like Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar. Tourism, which has made Thailand a household name around the world, remains nascent; and it is not a U.S. ally like the Philippines, Singapore or Malaysia. Nor is it the world’s biggest Muslim nation by population like Indonesia to give it prominence.
Little wonder then that what goes on in Laos, largely stays in Laos.
But by virtue of taking on the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN this year, it has suddenly sprung into limelight. Also, it’s the first time a U.S. president will visit Laos.
Most of Laos’ top leaders are from the first generation of revolutionary fighters, and even those who have retired retain influence over the Communist Party and the government. But the leadership is passing on to a younger generation slowly, evident in the party congress held this year.
While the top two posts — party secretary and president — are held by an old guard, former Gen. Bounhyang Vorachit, the cabinet has many young ministers, including Prime Minister Thongloune Sisoulith, the second-highest ranking person in the Politburo.
There is hope that this transition will lead to change in Laos. Thongloune has acknowledged corruption in the government and has taken action to halt illegal timber and wildlife trade. Still, many problems remain, such as environmental degradation, forced evictions and illegal land concessions.
Also, Laos wants to improve its economy and the life of its people by attracting more foreign investments, especially from its ASEAN neighbors. It also wants to forge closer ties to the U.S. as a counterbalance to China, which has a massive economic influence here. MDT/AP