Mr. Bounngang Vorachit, Prime Minister of Laos, says "Of the last decade Lao Peoples Democratic Republic has recorded a number of significant achievement in its social economic development. With the same progress, the country is currently ranked 135th out of 177 countries in 2004 compared to 141st out of 173 countries in 1993 in the human developmwnt index."
"Despite the above mentioned progress and achievement, Laos is still facing various challenges; these include poor socio-economic infrastructure and isolation from the world market. As being a land-locked least developed country, the spread of infected diseases such as malaria, avian flu and HIV aids, despite a low prevalence continue to impose a serious threat to the nation because of its land-locked position with the countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region..."
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