(KPL) The August monthly meeting of the government was held in Vientiane on 25 August under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and was attended by all cabinet members.

Participants of the meeting discussed, considered and approved in principle of some of the following documents:

1. Approved a report of the 9^th ASEAN-China Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction held in Laos.
2. Approved in principle a draft law on the fight against human trafficking in which participants asked authorities concerned to improve it according to comments made by cabinet members.
3. Considered and approved a draft decree on implementing a socio-economic development and state budget plan for 2015-2016 period. Participants asked authorities concerned to further improve it based on suggestions made by cabinet members, especially the part referring to management of state investment projects. 

He also told the sectors concerned to focus more on revenue collection using appropriate measures and targets. The Ministries of Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs and all relevant sectors were asked to continue to prepare for integration with the ASEAN Economic Community which will be officially launched by the end of this year.

PM Thongsing also asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to continue to address the outbreaks of grasshoppers and mice which has spread in many provinces. The Ministry of Public Health was asked to continue to monitor and address seasonal communicable diseases while the Ministry of Transport and Public Works was assigned to inspect and repair some broken roads which were damaged during the rainy season.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was also asked to make regular announcements about the weather to inform the general public so they can adequately prepare for possible floods or droughts.

KPL