China, Laos to enhance ties

“The Mekong River has nurtured millions of people, and we must attach great importance to the reasonable development of water resources”

China and Laos inked seven agreements yesterday opening the way for more cooperation on trade, investment and infrastructure construction. via People's Daily

[Jim Saint Paul]

I left Laos at the end of May 1975 after twenty months teaching in Savannakhet and Vientiane. It was time to go, as the Pathet Lao took over the goverment. But I wasn't the only one to go. The Chinese community, along with Vietnanese, Thai, others, had to go as well. Lao nationalism was strong, manifested by the mobs in the streets of Vientiane that month ordering shop keepers to display Lao as the predominate language on their store fronts. The Chinese suffered most, as they lost their businesses. It is good that change has come, as it can only be better for the Lao and other tribals in the country. Souk de!!

[Golden Compass]

Jim Saint Paul wrote:

I left Laos at the end of May 1975 after twenty months teaching in Savannakhet and Vientiane. It was time to go, as the Pathet Lao took over the goverment. But I wasn't the only one to go. The Chinese community, along with Vietnanese, Thai, others, had to go as well. Lao nationalism was strong, manifested by the mobs in the streets of Vientiane that month ordering shop keepers to display Lao as the predominate language on their store fronts. The Chinese suffered most, as they lost their businesses. It is good that change has come, as it can only be better for the Lao and other tribals in the country. Souk de!!

IT IS GOOD FOR LAOS TO NOW BE SAFELY UNDER VIETNAM PROTECTION. THIS IS THE BEST FOR LAOS. SOMEDAY COMMUNISM WILL FOREVER DISSAPEAR AND A NEW GOV'T WILL EMERGE, HURRAY!!! BUT NO MATTER WHAT VIETNAM WILL PROTECT LAOS AND LAOS WILL SLOW;Y IMPROVE. HURRAY FOR THE VIET BOYS AND HURRAY FOR THE LAOS BROTHERS!!!

[Jim Saint Paul]

What Laos has to fear from the Chinese is their entrepreneurial expertise. Before the revolution in 1975, Chinese businessmen totally dominated Lao business. There wasn't a shop that didn't depend on Chinese. They will do it again, if not already. How Vietnam will "protect" Laos is a mystery to me. Lao people are not business oriented and will find their country's economy in the hands of others.

[Jim Saint Paul]

I'd like to add to the above that the expansion of Han Chinese, as in in Tibet, will come to Laos as well. There are some 1,300,000,000 Chinese, many of whom need a place to live, especially those being displaced by electricity generating dams across rivers (e.g., Three Gorges). Laos is relatively wide-open. It won't be wide-open for long

[LeftLaos1977]

Look at Thailand as example, Thailand's economy are manily run by the oversea chinese. Thailand's previous priminister Taksin is a chinese but born in Thai. Thailand benifit enormously from having a large chinese population. One thing Thai did correctly is they do not excluded outsider. Many of the chinese in Thai do not view themself as chinese anymore. They view themself as Thai. Use the chinese's intelligent to help develope Laos's economy. Have no fear of the chinese. They need our resource to run their industries then they will have to help to invest to get to the resource. The money will run circle in the economy which in the end will help the population.
Basic economy 101.

Jim Saint Paul wrote:

What Laos has to fear from the Chinese is their entrepreneurial expertise. Before the revolution in 1975, Chinese businessmen totally dominated Lao business. There wasn't a shop that didn't depend on Chinese. They will do it again, if not already. How Vietnam will "protect" Laos is a mystery to me. Lao people are not business oriented and will find their country's economy in the hands of others.

[Deacon Chilly Willie]

Laos will fall prey to a ruthless govt known as China and they will fall back in time by 100 years and become worst off then ever

[Golden Compass]

Jim Saint Paul wrote:

What Laos has to fear from the Chinese is their entrepreneurial expertise. Before the revolution in 1975, Chinese businessmen totally dominated Lao business. There wasn't a shop that didn't depend on Chinese. They will do it again, if not already. How Vietnam will "protect" Laos is a mystery to me. Lao people are not business oriented and will find their country's economy in the hands of others.

Dear Jim Saint Paul,
I agreed with you that Laotin are typically not business people, but Lao is between a rock and a hard place. How does Laotin ppl create jobs for themselves if they do not have alot of entrepreneurial skills?? It is a tough situation here for them. Every countrie's economy in the world (even superpower USA) is dependent on another country one way or another. Take USA, 80% of their manufacturing imports are from China or 30% of their IT outsource work is from India, 50% oil from Middle east...etc. It is unfortunate, but this is a fact. Of course, all Laotin wish Laos is for Laos and all jobs are create internally by Laotin themselves, but this is wishful thinking. Vietnam economy too prior to 1975 used to be heavily dependent on the ethnic Han Chinese too, but in 1979, the Viet Communist gov't decided to kick all ethnic chinese business out of the country. The Viet knew they cannot be dependent on outsiders and instead strive now to succeed at all cost to control and improve their own economy. They are making strides....

Don't think of Han Chinese being in Laos as being doom or a 100% negative thing. It is a win/win for everyone. Here is my opinion on this issue

1. Chinese win by having land concession for 50 years.

2. Laotin win by having improvements in their cooperation on trade, investment and infrastructure construction. There will be jobs generated and billion of dollars of investment into their economy. Jobs, jobs, and jobs.

Infrastruture brings more tourism.

3. Vietnam the big brother will military/economically watch over Laos like a hawk. Laos's land, political interest, and economy will be protected.

China's spend 2billion dollars to built laos at no cost to Vietnam. Laos economy improves mean better quality of living for its people. Content/happy people mean a stable government.

[Golden Compass]

Deacon Chilly Willie wrote:

Laos will fall prey to a ruthless govt known as China and they will fall back in time by 100 years and become worst off then ever

OKAY, OKAY MR EINSTEIN OF ECONOMIC.
WE ALL BOW TO YOU HIGHNESS OF NONSENSE...

[Digusted]

Deacon Chilly Willie wrote:

Laos will fall prey to a ruthless govt known as China and they will fall back in time by 100 years and become worst off then ever

It is better with China than with the US!

[Deacon Chilly Willie]

Laos has been pushed around by invaders for one half of a century, Chine will ruin the culture and economics

They will make it a dependent child and exploit the people

[Digusted]

The worse will be with the US which will bleed the country dry in almost everythings in trade, culture, people, politics, and environment! This has happened in the old south vietnam where the US was booted out shamefully by the Vietnamese people. Learn from history!

[Hmoob Toj Siab]

Hey Doc Goldy, do you have any supportive facts about %%% this and %%% that????...

Golden Compass wrote:

<quoted text>
Dear Jim Saint Paul,
I agreed with you that Laotin are typically not business people, but Lao is between a rock and a hard place. How does Laotin ppl create jobs for themselves if they do not have alot of entrepreneurial skills?? It is a tough situation here for them. Every countrie's economy in the world (even superpower USA) is dependent on another country one way or another. Take USA, 80% of their manufacturing imports are from China or 30% of their IT outsource work is from India, 50% oil from Middle east...etc. It is unfortunate, but this is a fact. Of course, all Laotin wish Laos is for Laos and all jobs are create internally by Laotin themselves, but this is wishful thinking. Vietnam economy too prior to 1975 used to be heavily dependent on the ethnic Han Chinese too, but in 1979, the Viet Communist gov't decided to kick all ethnic chinese business out of the country. The Viet knew they cannot be dependent on outsiders and instead strive now to succeed at all cost to control and improve their own economy. They are making strides....
Don't think of Han Chinese being in Laos as being doom or a 100% negative thing. It is a win/win for everyone. Here is my opinion on this issue
1. Chinese win by having land concession for 50 years.
2. Laotin win by having improvements in their cooperation on trade, investment and infrastructure construction. There will be jobs generated and billion of dollars of investment into their economy. Jobs, jobs, and jobs.
Infrastruture brings more tourism.
3. Vietnam the big brother will military/economically watch over Laos like a hawk. Laos's land, political interest, and economy will be protected.
China's spend 2billion dollars to built laos at no cost to Vietnam. Laos economy improves mean better quality of living for its people. Content/happy people mean a stable government.

[Golden Compass]

Hmoob Toj Siab wrote:

Hey Doc Goldy, do you have any supportive facts about %%% this and %%% that????...
<quoted text>

MR. Hmoob Toj Siab,
I AM NOT AN ECONOMIST OR WOULD I EVER DARE TO CLAIMED WHAT IS RIGHT/WRONG FOR THE ECONOMY OF LAOS. I ONLY STATED MY OPINION AND IN WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING IN LAOS AT THE PRESENT TIME.

LAOS CAN EITHER SIT ON THEIR BUTT AND DO NOTHING, SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR LAND/RESOURCES INTACT. BUT THEN, THERE IS NO GROWTH AND NO JOBS CREATED. LAOS NEED TO IMPROVE ALL THEIR BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND I THINK THAT IS WHY THERE IS SO MANY BUSINESS DEALS GOING ON RIGHT NOW...

THINK ABOUT IT, LET SAY CHINA SPEND 3 BILLION ON BUILDING INFRASTRUTURE FOR LAOS. THIS IS A GAIN, IN RETURN LAOS GIVE CHINA 50 YEARS ON SOME LAND CONCESSION. OK, AT THIS POINT BOTH COUNTRIES GAIN. IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE MEAN IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS, TOURISTS,..ETC. OTHER TYPE OF INDUSTRIES LIKE TOURISM WILL BOOM.

AS MUCH AS WE DON'T LIKE TO ADMIT, VIETNAM IS THERE TO CONTROL/WATCH OVER LAOS LIKE A HAWK. LAOS GAIN MEAN VIETNAM ALSO GAIN. CHINA IS VIET'S HATED ENEMY AND VIETNAM WILL NEVER LET LAOS BE TAKEN OVER BY ANOTHER FOREIGNER WHILE ON THEIR WATCH, THIS IS A FACT!

BUT HAVING TRADE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THAI, CHINA, VIETS, LAOS....EVERYONE WINS!

AGAIN, THIS IS MY OPINION, I AM NOT AN ECONOMIST.

[Zsari]

Golden Compass wrote:

<quoted text>
AS MUCH AS WE DON'T LIKE TO ADMIT, VIETNAM IS THERE TO CONTROL/WATCH OVER LAOS LIKE A HAWK. LAOS GAIN MEAN VIETNAM ALSO GAIN. CHINA IS VIET'S HATED ENEMY AND VIETNAM WILL NEVER LET LAOS BE TAKEN OVER BY ANOTHER FOREIGNER WHILE ON THEIR WATCH, THIS IS A FACT!

Fail to see the logic in that. Improving Lao's infrastructure means it is able to compete with Vietnam for investments and job. Lao is landlocked, as such it could use Vietnam for access to sea port. In that respect Vietnam can benefit from, but Lao can also be a competitor in low wage manufacturing. And when you type in CAPs, it means you are shouting. So don't burst a blood vessel while you at it.

[Golden Compass]

Zsari wrote:

<quoted text>
Fail to see the logic in that. Improving Lao's infrastructure means it is able to compete with Vietnam for investments and job. Lao is landlocked, as such it could use Vietnam for access to sea port. In that respect Vietnam can benefit from, but Lao can also be a competitor in low wage manufacturing. And when you type in CAPs, it means you are shouting. So don't burst a blood vessel while you at it.

CAPS IS MY STYLE OF WRITING. IT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING OTHER THAN IT IS MY WRITING STYLE.

YOUR LOGIC IS FLAW. AGAIN, I DON'T CLAIM TO BE AN ECONOMIST. VIETNAM HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM LAOS IN TERM OF ECONOMIC COMPETITION. IF VIETNAM DEAR ANYTHING, IT WOULD ONLY BE CHINA (THE NUMBER #2 SUPERPOWER IN THE WORLD). VIETNAM ALREADY CONTROLLED LAOS BOTH MILITARILY/ECONOMICALLY, SO WHEN LAOS GAIN ECONOMICALLY, IT IS REALLY THE VIETNAMESE BUSINESS AND PEOPLE IN LAOS WHO GAIN. THE PEOPLE IN LAOS WILL GAIN IN JOBS AND IMPROVED STANDARD OF LIVING. SO IN A WAY, EVERY GAINS.

EVERYTHING THEM MOVE OR CRAWL IN LAOS IS ONLY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SOMEONE IN HANOI. SO WHATEVER IS DONE THERE IN TERMS OF ECONOMY WILL BOTH BENEFIT LAOS AND VIETNAM. EVERYTHING HAS ITS "REASON". MOST OF HIGH LEVEL OFFICIAL AND BUSINESS IN LAOS ARE ALL UNDER VIET CONTROL, THIS IS A FACT.

IF VIETNAM TRULY WANT TO LEAVE LAOS UNDER THE DARK OR LIVING IN STONE AGE, THEY CAN EASILY HAVE DONE IT. BUT THEY WANT LAOS TO IMPROVE AS WELL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF VIETNAM ECONOMICAL IMPROVEMENT. WHEN 2 FRIENDS IMPROVED ECONOMICALLY, BOTH BENEFIT.

[Hmoob Toj Siab]

Sire, Goldy let me quote your comment for us to see, since you state in this comment that this is your opinion only.

""""Every countrie's economy in the world (even superpower USA) is dependent on another country one way or another. Take USA, 80% of their manufacturing imports are from China or 30% of their IT outsource work is from India, 50% oil from Middle east...etc. It is unfortunate, but this is a fact. Of course, all Laotin wish Laos is for Laos and all jobs are create internally by Laotin themselves.""" "

If you states that this is the facts, I only want to see the facts, and please not FATS, but only FACTS.

Really, you looks like a fools!!...

Golden Compass wrote:

<quoted text>
MR. Hmoob Toj Siab,
I AM NOT AN ECONOMIST OR WOULD I EVER DARE TO CLAIMED WHAT IS RIGHT/WRONG FOR THE ECONOMY OF LAOS. I ONLY STATED MY OPINION AND IN WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING IN LAOS AT THE PRESENT TIME.
LAOS CAN EITHER SIT ON THEIR BUTT AND DO NOTHING, SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR LAND/RESOURCES INTACT. BUT THEN, THERE IS NO GROWTH AND NO JOBS CREATED. LAOS NEED TO IMPROVE ALL THEIR BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND I THINK THAT IS WHY THERE IS SO MANY BUSINESS DEALS GOING ON RIGHT NOW...
THINK ABOUT IT, LET SAY CHINA SPEND 3 BILLION ON BUILDING INFRASTRUTURE FOR LAOS. THIS IS A GAIN, IN RETURN LAOS GIVE CHINA 50 YEARS ON SOME LAND CONCESSION. OK, AT THIS POINT BOTH COUNTRIES GAIN. IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE MEAN IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS, TOURISTS,..ETC. OTHER TYPE OF INDUSTRIES LIKE TOURISM WILL BOOM.
AS MUCH AS WE DON'T LIKE TO ADMIT, VIETNAM IS THERE TO CONTROL/WATCH OVER LAOS LIKE A HAWK. LAOS GAIN MEAN VIETNAM ALSO GAIN. CHINA IS VIET'S HATED ENEMY AND VIETNAM WILL NEVER LET LAOS BE TAKEN OVER BY ANOTHER FOREIGNER WHILE ON THEIR WATCH, THIS IS A FACT!
BUT HAVING TRADE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THAI, CHINA, VIETS, LAOS....EVERYONE WINS!
AGAIN, THIS IS MY OPINION, I AM NOT AN ECONOMIST.

[Golden Compass]

Hmoob Toj Siab wrote:

Sire, Goldy let me quote your comment for us to see, since you state in this comment that this is your opinion only.
""""Every countrie's economy in the world (even superpower USA) is dependent on another country one way or another. Take USA, 80% of their manufacturing imports are from China or 30% of their IT outsource work is from India, 50% oil from Middle east...etc. It is unfortunate, but this is a fact. Of course, all Laotin wish Laos is for Laos and all jobs are create internally by Laotin themselves.""" "
If you states that this is the facts, I only want to see the facts, and please not FATS, but only FACTS.
Really, you looks like a fools!!...
<quoted text>

MR. Hmoob Toj Siab,
I AM NOT HERE TO ARGUED WITH YOU ABOUT 80% VS 70% AND WHETHER WHICH FACT IS EXACTLY CORRECT. WE CAN SIT HERE AND THROW MEANINGLESS NUMBERS AT EACH OTHER.

MY "POINT" HERE IS JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE THAT THIS IS A GLOBAL ECONOMY NOW. EVERY COUNTRY HAS TO DEPEND ON ANOTHER COUNTRY IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER TO THEIR ECONOMIC GROWTH. USA IS DEPENDENT ON CHINA MANUFACTURING, JAPANESE FOR CARS, MIDDLE EAST OIL,..ETC. MIDDLE EAST IS VERY DEPENDENT ON USA ARM/MILITARY SHIPMENTS...ETC. ALL I CAN SAY IS IT IS A GLOBAL DEPENDENCIES ON ONE ANOTHER.

AS MUCH AS WE HATE FOREIGN INFLUENCES ON OUR ON SOIL, THIS FACT HAPPENS!

IF LAOS SIT ON THEIR BUTT AND DO NOTHING (RESOURCES/LAND INTACT), THEY WILL ALSO GO NOWHERE ECONOMICALLY. SINCE LAOTIN ARE NOT BUSINESS PEOPLE, HOW CAN THEY GENERATE JOBS FOR THEIR OWN PEOPLE??? YOU TELL ME.... LAOTIN HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LOSE SOMETHING IN RETURN OF GAINING SOMETHING. CHINA IS NOT GOING TO SPEND 3 BILLION (OR WHATEVER AMOUNT) INTO LAOS AND GET NOTHING BACK IN RETURN, RIGHT?

EVERYONE GAINS IN THIS CASE!

1) CHINA - GAIN IN LAND CONSESSION

2) LAOS - GAIN IN INFRASTRUCTURE, JOB GROWTH, TOURISM,...ETC

3) VIETNAM - GAIN IN POWER/ECONOMIC INFLUENCES AND DON'T HAVE TO USE THEIR OWN MONEY FROM THEIR POCKET TO BUILD LAOS INFRASTRUCTURE.
LAOS PPL HAVE JOBS SO WILL LESS LIKELY COMPLAINT ABOUT VIET'S CONTROL OF THEIR COUNTRY.

ALSO, VIET/LAOS ECONOMY INTERLINK, SO BEST TO HAVE BOTH IMPROVE.

[Hmoob Toj Siab]

huh, Laos has nothing to gain, everythings is belonging to the foreigners. You're too busy to controlled south east asia, so that's you fail to see the big picture dR. sire Goldy!!...

Golden Compass wrote:

<quoted text>
MR. Hmoob Toj Siab,
I AM NOT HERE TO ARGUED WITH YOU ABOUT 80% VS 70% AND WHETHER WHICH FACT IS EXACTLY CORRECT. WE CAN SIT HERE AND THROW MEANINGLESS NUMBERS AT EACH OTHER.
MY "POINT" HERE IS JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE THAT THIS IS A GLOBAL ECONOMY NOW. EVERY COUNTRY HAS TO DEPEND ON ANOTHER COUNTRY IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER TO THEIR ECONOMIC GROWTH. USA IS DEPENDENT ON CHINA MANUFACTURING, JAPANESE FOR CARS, MIDDLE EAST OIL,..ETC. MIDDLE EAST IS VERY DEPENDENT ON USA ARM/MILITARY SHIPMENTS...ETC. ALL I CAN SAY IS IT IS A GLOBAL DEPENDENCIES ON ONE ANOTHER.
AS MUCH AS WE HATE FOREIGN INFLUENCES ON OUR ON SOIL, THIS FACT HAPPENS!
IF LAOS SIT ON THEIR BUTT AND DO NOTHING (RESOURCES/LAND INTACT), THEY WILL ALSO GO NOWHERE ECONOMICALLY. SINCE LAOTIN ARE NOT BUSINESS PEOPLE, HOW CAN THEY GENERATE JOBS FOR THEIR OWN PEOPLE??? YOU TELL ME.... LAOTIN HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LOSE SOMETHING IN RETURN OF GAINING SOMETHING. CHINA IS NOT GOING TO SPEND 3 BILLION (OR WHATEVER AMOUNT) INTO LAOS AND GET NOTHING BACK IN RETURN, RIGHT?
EVERYONE GAINS IN THIS CASE!
1) CHINA - GAIN IN LAND CONSESSION
2) LAOS - GAIN IN INFRASTRUCTURE, JOB GROWTH, TOURISM,...ETC
3) VIETNAM - GAIN IN POWER/ECONOMIC INFLUENCES AND DON'T HAVE TO USE THEIR OWN MONEY FROM THEIR POCKET TO BUILD LAOS INFRASTRUCTURE.
LAOS PPL HAVE JOBS SO WILL LESS LIKELY COMPLAINT ABOUT VIET'S CONTROL OF THEIR COUNTRY.
ALSO, VIET/LAOS ECONOMY INTERLINK, SO BEST TO HAVE BOTH IMPROVE.

[Golden Compass]

Hmoob Toj Siab wrote:

huh, Laos has nothing to gain, everythings is belonging to the foreigners. You're too busy to controlled south east asia, so that's you fail to see the big picture dR. sire Goldy!!...
<quoted text>

ARE YOU SO SURE THAT LAOS GOT NOTHING TO GAIN?
I MEAN, YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT AND ALSO YOU MIGHT BE WRONG. NO ONE REALLY KNOW FOR SURE UNLESS IT IS 10 0R 20 YEARS FROM NOW. GIVE THEM A CHANCE AND THEN ALL OF US CAN DRAW A MORE ACCURATE CONCLUSION IN 20 YEARS FROM NOW. ALL I KNOW IS LAOS CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO GROW THEIR ECONOMY OWN THEIR OWN, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERTISE, SO THE NEXT BEST THING IS TO OBTAIN THIS KNOWLEDGE FROM OUTSIDERS OR MAKE CONSESSIONS IN GIVING UP LAND. WHAT CHOICE DO THEY HAVE? LAOS CAN SIT AND DO NOTHING, SO NO GROWTH, NO JOB...ETC

I THINK LAOS IS ON RIGHT PATH...

IF YOU READ ALL THE BUSINESS DEALS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA LATELY, THE ARE TRYING HARD TO BUILD A BRIDGE/LINK/INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TRADE BETWEEN CHINA, LAOS, VIETNAM, AND THAILAND. I THINK THIS IS POSITIVE STEP. PUT THE "POLITICAL ETHNIC ISSUE STUFF ASIDE", AND LET'S GIVE THEM A CHANCE ON THE ECONOMY MAN!

[the Messenger]

Golden Compass wrote:

<quoted text>
MY "POINT" HERE IS JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE THAT THIS IS A GLOBAL ECONOMY NOW. EVERY COUNTRY HAS TO DEPEND ON ANOTHER COUNTRY IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER TO THEIR ECONOMIC GROWTH. USA IS DEPENDENT ON CHINA MANUFACTURING, JAPANESE FOR CARS, MIDDLE EAST OIL,..ETC. MIDDLE EAST IS VERY DEPENDENT ON USA ARM/MILITARY SHIPMENTS...ETC. ALL I CAN SAY IS IT IS A GLOBAL DEPENDENCIES ON ONE ANOTHER.
AS MUCH AS WE HATE FOREIGN INFLUENCES ON OUR ON SOIL, THIS FACT HAPPENS!

True that the world is becoming more globalize, more and more countries are now conducting international businesses with each other, but I have to make corrections to your comment above. You state that the U.S. economy is dependent on Japanese’s cars, this is not true. This is more of a consumer’s choice. U.S. has their own car industry competing in the world. The success of this country is not affected much or none at all by foreign import cars. If for some reason one day import cars are no longer available, with or without them, the U.S. would still thrive. Above, you also state that U.S. is dependent upon China for their manufacturing. That is also not true. Yes, U.S. do import a lot of manufacturing from China but these are mostly just small parts/items, nothing that they cannot make/create themselves except benefiting from cheep manufacturing labor which means lower costs for their consumers to gain from. In actuality, U.S. rejects more of China’s manufacturing than they allow and take in due to many of China’s products being of poor quality and hazardous. China itself stated that they are more fearful of losing U.S. as a consumer than U.S. needing China as a supplier. For U.S., if China cannot deliver what they want, they would just go elsewhere. While it is true that U.S. is currently dependent on Middle East's’oil, that does not mean that they are not looking for alternative solutions either to their economically oil problem. The point here is that while Laos is striving to become modernized, they need to take into consideration long-term measurement not to become too dependent upon foreign help or aids. Relying solely on tourist attractions and foreign businesses on their land alone are not enough. Laos need to develop some kind of independency by taking responsibility and liability for themselves as well. That way, if one day shall their foreign counterpart no longer delivers what they need or assist them, they can still stand firm on their own two feet.

In addition to focusing on the infrastructure such as building bridges, buildings, roads and dams to modernize Laos’ physical appearance, Laos also need to strategize a plan investing in the well being and education of its people instead of pocketing all earnings into the personal pockets of certain elite groups. Laos still has an awfully high percentage of school dropouts rate. Many of Laos’ citizens are still extremely poor and cannot afford higher education even if they want to, therefore still relying heavily on the sympathy and generosity of outsiders to support their financial academic struggles. This should be an essential investment, in fact a priority, and focus for the government of Laos to keep in mind. For one, beating up your poor citizens like what they did to the Laos Students Movement for their peaceful rallying and request for assistance to further their opportunity in higher learning is not a very effective way to bring in positive change to the country. One commonality that all the successful countries share and that is emphases and investment in the welfare and education of their own people/citizens because when you invest in your people, it will also come back in full reward. This is the biggest investment of all. Your people then will become equipped and contribute in return to the successes of the country.

For now, we will all have to wait and see. Agree or disagree with me, just some words I’m throwing out there for thoughts.