VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The governments of Laos and Thailand plan to increase the volume of their shared trade by building more road and bridge links as well as a special railway bridge, as agreed when the foreign ministers met for talks in Thailand this week.
The move is part of the two countries’ ongoing efforts to strengthen their friendship and cooperation.
The neighbouring nations will also continue to cooperate in the tourism sector, including in districts and provinces along the Lao-Thai border, as well as in the fields of public health, agriculture and forestry, labour, natural resources, and the environment, while also joining forces to tackle the problem of transboundary air pollution.
The cooperation plans were discussed during a working visit to Thailand from April 22-25 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saleumxay Kommasith, and other government leaders.
The Deputy PM met for talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, on Wednesday, when they reviewed past collaborations and discussed future avenues of cooperation.
The two deputy prime ministers agreed to strengthen existing Lao-Thai cooperation mechanisms in order to deepen their partnership and to continue to support each other in regional and international arenas, including during Laos’ chairmanship of Asean this year.
Parnpree promised that he would encourage his government to act on the outcomes of the meeting and further strengthen the ties between Laos and Thailand.
On the same day Deputy PM Saleumxay shared in Lao New Year festivities at the Lao Embassy in Bangkok, which were also attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Saleumxay observed that Laos and Thailand have similar traditions and cultural practices, with the Buddhist new year celebrations being a longstanding custom that is shared by both countries.
The new year celebrations in Laos and Thailand have become a major tourist attraction, serving to swell visitor numbers, he added.
The Deputy PM invited his Thai counterpart to visit Laos soon and enjoy some of the events planned during the Visit Laos Year programme.
On Thursday, Saleumxay attended a ceremony to open a cultural centre dedicated to Thai people of Lao Khang origin living in Suphan Buri province.
The centre aims to preserve the art forms and culture of the Lao Khang and to provide an educational experience for visitors wishing to learn about this ethnic group. - Vientiane Times/ANN
