1. WHEREAS the Lao People's Democratic Republic became a Member State of ASEAN on 23 July 1997;

2. WHEREAS the Lao People's Democratic Republic has agreed to subscribe or accede, as the case may be, to all Declarations, Treaties and Agreements of ASEAN;

3. WHEREAS the Lao People's Democratic Republic signed the Protocol for the Accession of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to ASEAN Agreement on 23 July 1997 in Subang Jaya, Malaysia; and

4. WHEREAS there have been consultations and negotiations directed towards the accession of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Agreements of ASEAN and the commitments made by the Lao People's Democratic Republic in the signed letter from the Minister of Commerce to the Secretary-General of ASEAN dated 19 May 1997,

5. NOW THEREFORE the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic hereby accedes to the following Agreements:

1. Agreement for the Promotion of Cooperation in Mass Media and Cultural Activities, signed in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, on 17 December 1969

2. Multilateral Agreement on Commercial Rights of Non-Scheduled Services among ASEAN, signed in Manila on 13 March 1971

3. Agreement for the Facilitation of Search for Aircraft in Distress and Rescue of Survivors of Aircraft Accidents, signed in Singapore on 14 April 1972

4. Agreement for the Facilitation of Search of Ships in Distress and Rescue of Survivors of Ship Accidents, signed in Kuala Lumpur on 15 May 1975

5. Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licenses Issued by ASEAN Countries, signed in Kuala Lumpur on 9 July 1985 and the amendment thereto in the Protocol to Amend ASEAN Agreements signed in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, on 23 July 1997

6. Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, signed in Kuala Lumpur on 9 July 1985

7. Agreement on ASEAN Energy Cooperation, signed in Manila on 24 June 1986 and the amendments thereto in the Protocols signed in Bangkok on 15 December 1995 and in Subang Jaya Malaysia, on 23 July 1997

8. ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement, signed in Manila on 24 June 1986 and the amendment thereto in the Protocol to Amend ASEAN Agreements signed in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, on 23 July 1997

9. Agreement on the Preferential Shortlisting of ASEAN Contractors, signed in Jakarta on 20 October 1986 and the amendment thereto in the Protocol to Amend ASEAN Agreements signed in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, on 23 July 1997

10. Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Swap Arrangements, signed in Kuala Lumpur on 5 August 1977 and the amendments thereto in the Supplement Agreement signed in Washington, D.C., USA, on 26 September 1978; the Second Supplementary Agreement signed in Denpasar, Indonesia, on 9 September 1979; the Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Swap Arrangement, signed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 16 January 1981; the Third Supplementary Agreement, signed in Bangkok, Thailand, on 4 February 1982; the Fourth Supplementary Agreement signed in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 21 January 1987; The Fifth Supplementary Agreement signed in Washington, D.C., USA, and the Sixth Supplementary Agreement signed in Shanghai, China, on 25 July 1997.

6. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC hereby agrees to, from the date of its accession to the above Agreements, immediately observe the commitments and carry out the obligations under the Agreements and any amendment thereto.

7. This Protocol shall enter into force on the day of its signing.

8. This Protocol shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, who shall promptly furnish a certified copy thereof to each Member State of ASEAN.

9. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto by the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, has signed the Second Protocol for the Accession of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to ASEAN Agreements.

10. DONE at Subang Jaya, Malaysia, on the 16th day of October in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Seven.

For the Lao People's Democratic Republic

SOMPADITH VORASANE
Minister of Commerce