MINUTES OF MEETING

Held in the Centre William Rappard

on 26 October 2012

Chairperson:  Mrs Elin Johansen (Norway)

Subjects discussed:^[1]                                                                                                                Page

1......... Accession of Lao PDR – Report of the Working Party. 1

2......... Appointment of the next Director-General – Statement by India. 13

3......... Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies – Statement by the Chairperson on the chairmanships of the Negotiating Group on Market Access and the Committee on Trade and Environment in Special Session. 14

1.                  Accession of Lao PDR – Report of the Working Party (WT/ACC/LAO/45 and Add.1 and 2)

1.                  The Chairperson said it was a great pleasure and honour for her to welcome, on behalf of all Members and observer delegations, H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR, who would address the Council during the consideration of this item.  It was also an honour for her to welcome to the present meeting H.E. Dr Nam Viyaketh, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, H.E. Prof. Boviengkham Vongdara, Minister of Sciences and Technology, and Vice-Minister Mrs Khemmani Pholsena, chief negotiator for the accession process, as well as the other members of the delegation of Lao PDR present at the meeting.  She recalled that in February 1998, the General Council had established a Working Party to examine the request by Lao PDR for accession.  The Report of the Working Party was now before the General Council for consideration and adoption in documents WT/ACC/LAO/45 and Addenda 1 and 2.  She invited the Chairman of the Working Party, Mr Yi Xiaozhun (China), to introduce the report.