360. Lao PDR has been a keen ASEAN Observer since 1992. On 15 March 1996, the Lao Foreign Minister submitted the letter of application for membership in ASEAN to the ASC Chairman. In the letter, the Government of Lao PDR expressed its wish to join ASEAN in 1997.

361. As part of her on-going preparations for membership in ASEAN, Lao PDR has upgraded the ASEAN Division in her Ministry of Foreign Affairs into a full-fledged department. The new ASEAN Department has a staff strength of 15 officials. The new Lao PDR Embassy in Kuala Lumpur brings the total number of embassies in ASEAN to four. Plans to set up embassies in Bandar Seri Begawan and Manila soon as soon as possible are in the pipeline.

362. ASEAN has extended its assistance to Lao PDR to facilitate the Country’s admission into the Association. The Director-General of ASEAN-Malaysia and four officers from the ASEAN Secretariat conducted three briefing sessions in Vientiane between August and November 1995.

363. The ASEAN Secretariat also undertook intensive training of seven Lao officials during their five-week, UNDP-funded attachment in Jakarta during October and November 1995. Two more Lao officials underwent intensive training on AFTA matters and economic cooperation during a three-week attachment programme at the ASEAN Secretariat in May 1996.

364. The ASC's fact-finding team, comprising the ASEAN Directors-General and an official from the ASEAN Secretariat went on a mission to Lao PDR from 11-14 February 1996. The team held consultations with the Laotian Government on issues relating to ASEAN membership. As a result of this mission, the ASC set up a Working Group to look into issues relating to Lao PDR’s impending admission into ASEAN. Chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, the group’s purview also extends to Cambodia’s preparations to join ASEAN. The first meeting of this Working Group was convened on 30 May 1996.

365. At the bilateral level, individual ASEAN Member Countries have provided assistance to Lao PDR in various ways. This includes English language training in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore; training on diplomacy and international relations in Malaysia; English language and ASEAN Affairs training in the Philippines; and a familiarisation tour of Hanoi for Lao officials to benefit from the Vietnamese experience of preparations for entry into ASEAN.