Basic facts about Laos

BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will pay a working visit to Laos from March 29 to March 31, and attend the third Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Summit in Vientiane.

The following are basic facts about Laos:

As a landlocked nation in Southeast Asia, Lao People's Democratic Republic is surrounded by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Its capital is Vientiane.

Laos is a mountainous country with an area of 236,800 square km and a population of 5.7 million. It is characterized by tropical monsoons with rainy and dry seasons. The Mekong River flows through the country.

Lao is the official language and Buddhism the principal religion of the country.

The president is the head of state and elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term. The prime minister is appointed by the president with the approval of the assembly.

The National Assembly is elected for a five-year term by popular vote.

Laos is divided into 16 provinces, one municipality and one special zone.

The country's per capita gross domestic product was 678 U.S. dollars in 2007.