ASEAN Defense: 7) Yingluck visits Lao, fastest growing country in ASEAN

/ September 17, 2011

  • By Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist

These days, there is little national security related news when one thinks of Lao-apart from questions about the growing illicit drug trade into China-and human trafficking route from China into Thailand.

That is currently, off course. But history, have shown, that a small out-of-the-way country like Lao-can actually, be very critical to national security efforts.

If you do not believe Thai Intel, ask the CIA.

But from CIA’s secret airline in Lao, it is currently as the following Reuters, report:

Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:19am EDT

Aug 26 (Reuters) – Lao Airlines agreed to buy two A320 airplanes from Airbus , the airline said in a statement on Friday.

The purchase marks the first time that Lao Airlines, the national carrier of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, has bought Airbus planes.

The A320 family of planes feature a single-aisle, and competes with rival Boeing’s 737 planes.

Airbus said in mid-August aircraft production would be flat or slightly higher even if another global economic downturn takes hold, helped by growing demand for medium-haul jets in Asia.

And Lao is getting to be a rich country.

With just so few people, but very rich in natural resources-and growing strongly, it can be argued, that it is only a mater of time, that Lao gets serious about its national security-with an up-grade of its military forces.

But for now, when most people think of Lao, they often think of some very far away country-that has little to do with anyone, sort of like a “Vineyard in the cloud somewhere difficult to get to and just a dream.”

Well, that may be correct-but Lao is known to shake the globe to its core at times.

A few years back, Thailand sent back into Laos, a group of Hmong. The Hmong, off course, are the ally of the CIA, during the Vietnam War-with its secret army in Lao. After the war, a great many Hmong went to live in the USA-and they have a very powerful lobby in the US. That move by Thailand, to send the Hmong back to Lao, cause a great deal of global concern-as to their safety.

Then the earth shattering news, recently from Lao, is about the Sayabiruri Dam project in Lao-where who knows what the dam will do the Mae Khong river-that hits Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

What happens to the Mae Khong river, is no small matter. The US secretary of state, Hillary-have made joint US and ASEAN development of the Mae Khong river-one of her top priority. In fact, Hillary, appears to have taken the Mae Khong river envelopment, as a “Personal Crusade.”

Today, Lao is ASEAN fastest growing economy-with an impressive 7.7% GDP growth projection this year. It is becoming an important energy source for the region-and foreign investments is flocking into Lao.

Lao, that “Dreamy” country, even has a stock market.

The following is from MCOT

BANGKOK, Sept 16 — Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra left Bangkok to visit the Lao PDR to boost bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries which are both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Lao trip is the premier’s fourth to an ASEAN country since taking office, to introduce herself to regional leaders. She earlier visited Brunei, Indonesia and Cambodia.

Ms Yingluck and her entourage will leave Bangkok at 1pm from Don Mueang Royal Thai Air Force Base, Wing 6 to Vientiane, the Lao capital and the country’s largest city.

The premier is scheduled to discuss with her Lao counterpart Tongsing Tammawong at the Office of the Prime Minister before presiding over a ceremony to provide assistance to those affected by natural disaster in Laos and for a school partnership programme.

Ms Yingluck will then meet and discuss bilateral issues with Lao President Lt-Gen Chummalee Xayasone at the National Parliament.

The Lao prime minister will host a dinner in honour of the Thai prime minister before she returns to Thailand. She is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok at 6pm.

The visit to Lao will help strengthen bilateral relations in all levels and dimensions. Thailand believes that Lao stability and prosperity can help Thailand build up its own stability and prosperity.

The Thai premier will take this opportunity to increase cooperation and expand trade and investment between the two countries.

It is expected that the two leaders will discuss various issues including cooperation mechanisms, especially cooperation for development, infrastructure project development, and the inauguration of the third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Nakhon Phanom-Khammuane). (MCOT online news)

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