ABSTRACT
With the intensifying of the strategic competition between the United States of America (U.S.) and China and the growing influence of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a critical inter-state organization, the international community is increasingly concerned about ASEAN countries and their foreign relations. China attaches great importance to its neighbors, and most ASEAN members are China's neighbors with an essential role in the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. There is still the problem of third-party competition in China's cooperation with ASEAN. Under the international pattern of U.S.-China strategic competition, ASEAN countries generally remain neutral between China and the U.S. There is some variability in choosing sides. In contrast, Laos remains neutral but relatively favorable to China. Chinese aid projects, such as the China-Laos Railway, are of great importance to the economic development of Laos. China's “Belt and Road” initiative and East Asian economic and trade cooperation after the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) comes into effect. The current national relations between China and Laos vigorously safeguard the national interests of both countries and are in line with diplomatic expectations. Laos has an important strategic position, and maintaining good diplomatic relations is conducive to enhancing China's national influence in ASEAN and maintaining China's national security. In the meantime, Laos can obtain international aid projects and vast economic development space in cooperation with China. Laos’ developing situation is not optimistic, including weak comprehensive national power, a slight competitive advantage compared to other ASEAN countries, a lack of qualified labor force, a poor business environment, and geographical constraints. Thus, Laos and China have solid complementary development. This paper argues that the relations between the two countries and Laos’ foreign policies’ preference for China will not be easily changed in the longer term, and there is the prospect for further development.
