Can Laos stand the spotlight?

Laos has adopted the efficient practice of hosting two Asean summits at one go. Why bother organising two events months apart? We already have a lot of domestic homework and who wants to meet world leaders that often, especially if all they’re going to do is nag us about democracy and human rights?

Photo-ops and friendly handshakes are what many Asean leaders prefer -- either to silence noisy critics at home or to confer legitimacy if, for instance, they took power after a coup.