The main objective of this workshop is to invite relevant authorities from Lao PDR to view and discuss with their counterparts in Vietnam opportunities and constraints that World Heritage introduces into the conservation and development of natural heritage. It is hoped that the transboundary areas of Vietnam and Lao PDR will together constitute a natural heritage site with a complete ecosystem. This would offer a powerful option for increased conservation status, which also has the potential to provide increased opportunities for tourism and resource mobilization. The meeting would also aim to provide a forum for colleagues to exchange views on a methodology for the preparation of World Heritage nominations and on the adoption of a cooperation agreement to harmonize and coordinate complementary management mechanisms of the two States Parties concerned on the conservation and management of this important karst landscape in Southeast Asia.