The government meeting held on July 23-24 in Vientiane has discussed four fundamental issues for the nation, including a report on Laos' preparations to receive World Trade Organisation membership at the end of this year. The government meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and attended by other cabinet members, and consensus was reached on all four issues discussed. The country's preparations to join the WTO are in the final stages of negotiation and the country's WTO membership is expected to be confirmed before the 9th ASEM Summit in November.
Laos also formulated and amended legislation related to trade, aiming to harmonise with the principles and requirements of WTO membership. (26 July 2012)