Lao scholar presents book on leadership and national development

Lao scholar Anoulak Kittikhoun released a book titled A Great Country Is What Leaders Make of It to explore the qualities that define a successful nation.

He presented the collection at the Laos-Singapore Cooperation Centre in Vientiane on 3 November. The event included support from the Singapore Embassy and featured remarks from Ambassador Ong Siew Gay and Alounkeo Kittikhoun. Anoulak Kittikhoun identifies five rules for building a great country based on his research from visiting around 40 countries.

He argues that greatness is not defined by size or wealth, but by how leaders manage public spaces and community standards. He points to the importance of keeping a country green and clean as a sign of self-discipline and respect for future generations. The author uses examples from countries like Singapore and Japan to show how environmental standards and public discipline can become part of daily life.

He suggests that while these traits are practical starting points for young leaders to influence, they also reflect a broader responsibility of those in power to serve the people. The book serves as a collection of personal views rather than a specific blueprint for the Lao government. Anoulak Kittikhoun wrote the book in 2025 while he served as an Independent Senior Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

He intended the work to encourage current and future Lao leaders to consider the choices behind national progress and the legacy they leave for the next generation.