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Laos is a country that has been considered poor and backward for a long time. According to the classification of the World Bank and the International Monetary Organization, Laos is classified as a low-income country in the world and one of the nine least developed countries in Asia. The development of Laos really took off in the 70s of the last century, which is directly related to the American bombing of Vietnam. At the same time that the United States bombed Vietnam, it also carried out a heavy bombing of Laos. Therefore, it can be said that the departure of the United States has brought opportunities for development in Laos.
Laos' momentum should not be underestimated. With China's help, Laos has made remarkable progress in the construction of transportation facilities, the construction of power stations, investment in mining and the transfer of labor-intensive industries. Among them, the opening of the China-Laos railway has brought huge economic benefits to Laos. After nearly five years of construction, the electrified railway was officially opened to traffic at the end of 2021. At present, the passenger throughput of the China-Laos Railway has exceeded 20 million. At the same time, Laos' economic growth rate has also remained at a high level, and the per capita GDP has exceeded 8,000 US dollars, which is equivalent to the level of a second-tier city in China.
The development of Laos has become a model for ASEAN countries. As the rotating chair of ASEAN, Laos has played an important role in addressing the Myanmar issue. Laos sent Alaungei Kidikhun as its special representative for Myanmar and met with Myanmar's military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, and Myanmar's "shadow**" foreign minister, Hin Maung Aung. There are certain differences between Laos and other ASEAN countries in dealing with the Myanmar issue, with Laos being closer to Myanmar and having a unique advantage in dealing with Myanmar. During the Lao presidency, Myanmar's military accepted a three-year-long invitation to send non-political representatives to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Informal Meeting. This move shows that with the help of Laos, Myanmar has actively taken a step towards dialogue and laid a good foundation for resolving the crisis in Myanmar.
Compared to Laos, the situation in Myanmar is more complicated. Myanmar has a population of about 53 million, and its relatively large population size makes Myanmar have a larger economy and market potential. However, Myanmar has long been plagued by ethnic conflict and political instability, which has limited its full development potential.
Since 2011, Myanmar has undergone a series of political reforms and gradually opened up its economic system. This initiative has attracted some foreign investment, especially in the energy and manufacturing sectors. However, Myanmar's Rohingya crisis in 2017 and military coup in 2021 dealt a major blow to its international image and economic stability. In particular, the military coup in 2012 led to tensions between Myanmar and ASEAN. ASEAN has sought to resolve the political crisis in Myanmar through a five-point consensus, including an end to violence, the start of dialogue, the good offices of ASEAN envoys, humanitarian assistance, and the restoration of the democratic transition. However, the Myanmar military has not fully followed this consensus, making it difficult to reconcile relations with ASEAN.
Myanmar is now facing an important turning point. During the Lao chairmanship of ASEAN, Laos sent its Special Representative, Alaungay Kidikun, to assist in resolving the Myanmar issue. At the same time, under the active mediation of the Chinese side, the Myanmar military accepted the invitation for dialogue and sent non-political representatives to participate in the informal meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers. This shows that with the help of China, Myanmar has taken a step towards solving the problem and opened up a new space for the resolution of the Myanmar crisis.
China has played a positive role in resolving the Myanmar issue. China has made efforts to resolve the crisis in Myanmar by actively mediating and helping all parties in Myanmar to engage in dialogue and negotiation. China's position on the Myanmar issue has also been recognized and appreciated by ASEAN countries.
Laos' status and prestige in ASEAN are also inseparable from China's help. China's support for Laos is mainly focused on the construction of transportation facilities, power stations, mining investment, and the transfer of labor-intensive industries. China has provided a lot of aid and investment to Laos, which has helped Laos achieve steady economic growth and enhance its voice among ASEAN countries. As a model for China's cooperation in Southeast Asia, Laos can also help other ASEAN countries open up the situation and indirectly influence the development of other countries in Southeast Asia.
Overall, China has shown sincerity in its cooperation with Laos and Myanmar and has played an important role in resolving the Myanmar issue. Southeast Asia is a region that China must operate, and China will strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries to achieve the goal of mutual benefit and win-win results. At the same time, China's mediation has also opened up a new space for resolving the crisis in Myanmar, and all parties should work together to achieve stability and development in Myanmar.
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