Hillary Clinton has arrived in Laos. She is the first US Secretary of State to visit the country in 57 years. She is expected to discuss plans to build the controversial Mekong river dam, which critics say, would impact the environment and millions of lives. The effects of Agent Orange, a defoliant used during the Vietnam war, are also likely to be on the agenda. Mrs Clinton, who arrives in Vientiane from Vietnam, will then head to Cambodia for an Asean meeting.
The last top US diplomat to visit Laos was John Foster Dulles in 1955. The 3.8 billion dollars hydro-electric dam project at Xayaburi, has caused tension among Mekong region countries - Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. In April, a multi-billion dollar contract was signed for a Thai company, CH Karnchang, to build the dam. The Lao government has pledged not to go ahead with the project until environmental issues have been resolved.