1. Cultural co-operation through the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Main feature of the measure: Lao PDR promotes regional multilateral cultural co-operation through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was established in 1967 and has just commemorated its 50^th anniversary this year. Lao PDR joined ASEAN in 1997. Socio-cultural co-operation is one of the 3 pillars of the ASEAN co-operation. Lao PDR is currently the Chair of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). Lao PDR is supporting various cultural initiatives through ASEAN such as: ASEAN Young Contemporary Music Concert (23-27 August 2017, Vientiane, Lao PDR), the very first Writers Symposium and ASEAN Literary Books Exhibition (scheduled for May 2018 in Lao PDR) and National Identity Sculpturing  Camp for Young ASEAN Fine Arts Students (scheduled for 2018 in Lao PDR). Media co-operation is also taking place through the ASEAN framework – for example, ASEAN Today Radio programme, annual ASEAN Journalists’ Exchange, and Workshop on manuscripts palm leaves in ASEAN (14-17 December 2015). These events facilitated the exchange of artists from different domains in ASEAN countries.

These events strengthened the cultural and creative industries of the ten ASEAN members network, to understand all the cultures, people-to-people relationship for sharing experiences and cultures in the specific domain. The main feature of the cooperation is for performing arts.