Literature of Laos families: Lao-Tai (Tai-Kadai); Mon-Khmer (Austroasiatic); Hmong-Mien (Miao-Yao), and Sino-Tibetan (primarily Tibeto-Burman). As an inland crossroads of Southeast Asia the political history of Laos has been complicated by frequent warfare and colonial conquests by European and regional rivals. As a result, Laos today has cultural influence from France, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Burma, and Cambodia. Traditionally literature is held high regard in Lao society. Lao literature spans a wide range of genres including religious, philosophy, prose, epic or lyric poetry, histories, traditional law and customs, folklore, astrology, rituals, grammar and lexicography, dramas, romances, comedies, and non-fiction. Lao thematic elements frequently combine the
Emblem of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN; the addition of four more rice stalks to represent the whole ten ASEAN nations. The three remaining nations; Laos, Burma, and Cambodia were scheduled to join ASEAN in July 1997, to commemorate this auspicious event, the new emblem of ASEAN was unveiled. Laos and Burma (Myanmar) joined on 23 July 1997, however the admission of Cambodia was postponed to 30 April 1999 due to their internal politic problems. Despite the Cambodian postponed membership, the ASEAN new emblem still consisted of ten rice stalks unveiled in July 1997. Emblem of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations The Emblem of the