UN General Assembly
1962

11. Coming nearer home, I should like to refer to a similar happy development in Laos, with which country we have a common border and to which we are bound by ties of religion, culture and history. It has long been our belief that, given the geographic position of Laos and the political alignment of most of the countries bordering it, there would be no peace in Laos unless it kept itself outside the struggle of the two great Power blocs. Indeed, we have always considered that it is not only in the best interests of Laos itself, but also of peace and security in South- East Asia, that Labs should adhere to a policy of independence, strict neutrality and friendly relations and co-operation with all nations, .irrespective of differences in political and social systems. Thus we cannot but feel deeply gratified with the agreement concluded recently at Geneva among fourteen nations — compromising Laos; all the great Powers, including the People’s Republic of China; India, Poland and Canada as members of the International Commission for Supervision and Control; and all the other countries having a common border with Laos — an agreement under which Laos accepts for itself a policy of strict neutrality and friendship with all nations, and all the thirteen other signatories guarantee the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and neutrality of Laos.