Laos faces tough choices on geostrategy and economy
Significance Phankham Viphavanh succeeds him as prime minister. The country’s reshuffled leadership is entrusted with handling complicated ties with China and Vietnam -- each of which looks to keep Laos within its orbit -- and mitigating a growing debt problem. Impacts Vietnam, which has a policy of ‘cooperation and struggle’ with China, will try to push back on Beijing’s growing influence in Laos. Once operational, the China-Laos railway should help boost regional connectivity. Laos will place high emphasis on ensuring it graduates from ‘least developed country’ status by 2026, having previously targeted 2024.
2015 ◽
Vol 9
(3)
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pp. 206-220
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