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Portal:Laos/Intro

Laos (/ˈlɑːoʊs/ ^ⓘ, /ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑːɒs/, or /ˈleɪɒs/; Lao: ລາວ, Lao pronunciation: [láːw], Lāo), or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao (Lao: ເມືອງລາວ, Muang Lao), is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

It traces its historic and cultural identity to the kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao (Kingdom of a Million Elephants Under the White Parasol), which existed for four centuries as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Due to Lan Xang's central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom was able to become a popular hub for overland trade, becoming wealthy economically as well as culturally. After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke off into three separate kingdoms — Luang Phrabang, Vientiane, and Champasak. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three territories uniting to form what is now known as the country of Laos. It briefly gained freedom in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but was recolonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953 under King Sisavang Vong.

The capital city is Vientiane. Other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse. The official language is Lao. Laos is a multi-ethnic country with the politically and culturally dominant Lao people making up approximately 60 percent of the population, mostly in the lowlands. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes, accounting for 40 percent of the population, live in the foothills and mountains.

Laos' ambitious strategies for development are based on generating electricity from its rivers and selling the power to its neighbors, namely Thailand, China, and Vietnam, as well as its initiative to become a 'land-linked' nation, shown by the planning of four new railways connecting Laos to those same countries. This, along with growth of the mining sector, Laos has been referred to as one of East Asia and Pacific's fastest growing economies by the World Bank, with annual GDP growth averaging 7% for the past decade. It is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit and La Francophonie. Laos became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013.

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National emblem

The Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, formerly the chairman of the Council of Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is the head of government of Laos. The highest position in the government, they direct the country's executive branch. The prime minister is accountable to the president, the National Assembly and the country's only legal party: the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The current prime minister is Sonexay Siphandone, who was elected in 2022.

The Kingdom of Luang Phrabang was the first Laotian state to establish the office of prime minister. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Laos, ratified in 1947, established the post of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Laos. The kingdom was abolished on 2 December 1975, when the National Congress of People's Representatives established the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The congress established the office of prime minister, forming the First Government on that day. The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) approved the Law on the Council of Government, regulating the government's decision-making process, in 1982. The Constitution was approved on 14 August 1991, and the Prime Minister was made subordinate to the President. (Full article...)

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The following are images from various Laos-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Market in Luang Prabang, c. 1900 CE
Image 2That Luang, Vientiane (from Culture of Laos)
Image 3Ruins in Vientiane, depicted by Louis Delaporte during the Mekong Expedition led by Francis Garnier (c. 1867) (from History of Laos)
Image 4Lao actors wearing Khon Masks (from Culture of Laos)
Image 5Historic Indosphere cultural influence zone of Greater India for transmission of elements of Indian elements such as the honorific titles, naming of people, naming of places, mottos of organisations and educational institutes as well as adoption of Hinduism, Buddhism, Indian architecture, martial arts, Indian music and dance, traditional Indian clothing, and Indian cuisine, a process which has been also aided by the ongoing historic expansion of Indian diaspora. (from History of Laos)
Image 6Lao princess wearing gold embroidery (from Culture of Laos)
Image 7French warships bombarding the Siamese fort at Paknam (from History of Laos)
Image 8Akha girl in traditional dress (from Culture of Laos)
Image 9Lao Loum girls dancing in traditional sinh (from Culture of Laos)
Image 10Lan Xang's zone of influence and neighbours, c. 1540 (from History of Laos)
Image 11Traditional spirit house (from Culture of Laos)
Image 12Kra-Dai (Tai-Kadai) migration route according to James R. Chamberlain (2016). (from History of Laos)
Image 13Emerald Buddha (from History of Laos)
Image 14Monks gathering morning alms (from Culture of Laos)
Image 15Plain of Jars, Xiangkhouang (from History of Laos)
Image 16Auguste Pavie, First Governor-General of the French Protectorate of Laos
Image 17Lao monk woodworking temple details (from Culture of Laos)
Image 18Brao couple farming (from Culture of Laos)
Image 19Bronze Buddha sculptures, Wat Mai, Luang Prabang (from Culture of Laos)
Image 20Lao women in traditional Luang Prabang sinh (from Culture of Laos)
Image 21Traditional mor lam (from Culture of Laos)
Image 22Luang Prabang, Wat Mai, gilded wood bas relief scenes from the Prince Vessantara Jataka. (from Culture of Laos)
Image 23Monks gathered at evening prayer (from Culture of Laos)
Image 24Southeast Asia in the 18th century showing the kingdoms of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Champasak and the principality of Phuan (Xieng Khuang) (from History of Laos)
Image 25Ornate lintel Wat Phu, Champasak (from Culture of Laos)
Image 26Territories abandoned by Siam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, depicted as a map of Thailand's territorial losses. The Franco-Siamese crisis resulted in the cession of Laos to France in 1893. (from History of Laos)
Image 27A soldier of the Black Flag Army, 1885 (from History of Laos)
Image 28The mainland of Southeast Asia at the end of the 13th century (from History of Laos)
Image 29Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang (from Culture of Laos)
Image 30Morning on the Mekong River (from Culture of Laos)
Image 31Lao sticky rice and papaya salad (from Culture of Laos)
Image 32Lao sculpted wood Buddhas posed "calling for rain" (from Culture of Laos)
Image 33Map showing linguistic family tree overlaid on a geographic distribution map of Tai-Kadai family. This map only shows general pattern of the migration of Tai-speaking tribes, not specific routes, which would have snaked along the rivers and over the lower passes. (from History of Laos)
Image 34Baci Soukhuan (from Culture of Laos)
Image 35Ancient human fossil remains from Tam Pa Ling cave (from History of Laos)
Image 36Mor lam performance-the men are playing the khene and wearing pha sarong (from Culture of Laos)
Image 37Lower terrace of the Wat Phu mountain complex, Champasak

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Statue of King Setthathirath
Pha That Luang, Vientiane

Setthathirath (Lao: ເສດຖາທິຣາດ; 24 January 1534 – 1571) or Xaysettha (Lao: ໄຊເສດຖາ; Thai: ไชยเชษฐาธิราช, RTGS: Chaiyachetthathirat, Burmese: ဇယဇေဋ္ဌာဓိရာဇ် Jayajyeṣṭhādhirāja) is considered one of the great leaders in Lao history. Throughout the 1560s until his death, he successfully defended his kingdom of Lan Xang against military campaigns of Burmese conqueror Bayinnaung, who had already subdued Xieng Mai (Chiang Mai) in 1558 and Ayutthaya in 1564. Setthathirath was a prolific builder and erected many Buddhist monuments including Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang, Haw Phra Kaew, Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan and the Pha That Luang in Vientiane. (Full article...)

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Photisarath Anouvong Sourigna Vongsa Phetsarath Ratanavongsa Souvanna Phouma Fa Ngum Nang Keo Phimpha Sisavang Vong Sombath Somphone Sourith Don Sasorith Kouprasith Abhay Sourith Don Sasorith Phoumi Nosavan Deuane Sunnalath Kham Ouane Boupha Alexandra Bounxouei Channapha Khamvongsa Douangdeuane Bounyavong Daoviang Butnakho Nakhon Noi Souvanna Phouma Sisavang Vatthana Souphanouvong