29/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - Laos is edging ever closer to WTO membership after it finalised bilateral agreements on market access for goods and services with Japan and China last week. Discussions on the services chapter having been finalised, Laos is likely very shortly to conclude a similar agreement with the EU, Laotian Trade Minister Nam Viyakeh announced at the WTO in Geneva on 24 September. Laos will now have to reach bilateral agreements with Australia, Canada and South Korea, and finalise its multilateral agreements with all member countries to be able to complete its negotiations on WTO membership, which were opened in 1998. (E.H./transl.rt)