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Description Kazakhstan by rbd.me
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Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
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Location
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Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
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Area - comparative
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slightly larger than Utah
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Natural resources Kazakhstan
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mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
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Population Kazakhstan
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landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
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Religions Kazakhstan
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Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)
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Languages
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Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
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Education Kazakhstan expenditures
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Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
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Government Kazakhstan type
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3% of GDP (2006)
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Independence
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16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
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Kazakhstan Economy - overview
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three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
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Investment Kazakhstan
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34.6 (2002)
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Industries Kazakhstan
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2.3% (2009 est.)
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Airports Kazakhstan
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refined products 540 km (2009)
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