Annual Report on the Development of Laos Studies(2023)
This paper summarizes the main achievements of regional and country studies of Laos in 2023,which focused on Laos'political diplomacy,economy,culture and education,participation in the Belt and Road construction,social governance,and so on.Specifically,the research in the field of political diplomacy in Laos mainly involves issues such as tracing back the po-litical history of Laos,crucial issues facing Laos'diplomacy,the construction of the China-Laos community of shared future and the maintenance of ASEAN's Centrality.Research in the field of Lao economy mainly focuses on livelihood topics,such as Lao macroeconomy,agricultural and forestry development,manufacturing development,digital development and poverty alleviation.The research on Laos'participation in the Belt and Road construction mainly concentrates on the social evaluation of project con-struction,China's assistance in energy supply and network construction,demand and freight products of the China-Laos Railway-and the identification of the authenticity of debt traps.The academic circle also paid full attention to the research onLao culture and education and Lao social governance.In 2023,Chinese and foreign scholars have made gratifying research results in Laos'politics,economy,culture and social governance,but compared with other key regional and country studies,there is still a gap,es-pecially in the fields of China-Laos cross-border ethnic groups,China-Laos community with a shared future,Lao language and culture,and the links between China,Laos and Vietnam's communist movements.
Laosarea studiesASEANBelt and Road Initiativesa community with a shared future