Lao PDR

Round Table Meeting and Helen Clark's visit

Helen Clark, Chair of the United Nations Development Group and Administrator of the United Nations Development  Programme (UNDP) visited Lao PDR in October to join the 10th Round Table Meeting.

“The conditions for continued economic growth are favourable,” said Helen Clark. “The Government’s new national development plan, which places Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at its heart, provides the foundations for achieving growth with equity.”  

In addition to many bilateral meetings with the leaders of the country, Helen Clark delivered the keynote address at the 10th Round Table Meeting between the Government of Lao PDR and development partners. The Round Table provides a forum for high-level policy dialogue on the country’s strategic direction.

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First Meeting of States Parties and Asha-Rose Migiro's visit

The United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, departed Lao PDR late Tuesday 9 th November after a two day visit. On her first trip to the country, Dr. Migiro addressed delegates from over 120 states, UN agencies, civil society and cluster munition survivors at the opening ceremony of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

To date the treaty has been signed by 108 states and ratified by 46. Lao PDR will hold the Presidency for the treaties inaugural year.

Dr. Migiro praised the Government and people of Lao PDR for being one of the first countries to ratify the Convention. “Its leaders and citizens alike saw the implications of trying to solve the vast challenges posed by these weapons and meeting the needs of the victims. You saw something else as well: the opportunity afforded by the Convention to advance the disarmament agenda, strike a blow against a terrible weapon, and work with other countries in building a safer, more prosperous nation,” she told the delegates.

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