Laos ((i/ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑː.ɒs/, /ˈlɑː.oʊs/, or /ˈleɪ.ɒs/)Lao:ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, pronounced[sǎːtʰáːlanalat pásáːtʰipátàj pásáːsón láːw]Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) (French:République démocratique populaire lao), is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Since 1975, it has been ruled by a Marxist and communist government. Its population was estimated to be around 6.8million in July 2014.
Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, which existed from the 14th to the 18th century when it split into three kingdoms. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three kingdoms—Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak — uniting to form what is now known as Laos. It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a long civil war ended the monarchy, when the CommunistPathet Lao movement came to power in 1975.
National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ and his Lao counterpart Saysomphone Phomvihane have attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Laos-Việt Nam friendship park in Vientiane, as part of his official visit to the neighbouring country ... .
National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ met Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh on Tuesday, where the two discussed measures to promote bilateral relations ... .
National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ on Tuesday paid a working visit to Champasak province in southwestern Laos as part of his trip to the country ... .