Saleumxay Kommasith (right) welcomes Maris Sangiampongsa to Laos. - Photo: Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The governments of Laos and Thailand last week reiterated their desire to further strengthen relations and cooperation under their Strategic Partnership for Growth and Sustainable Development, particularly by bolstering logistics and transport connectivity, development cooperation, and tourism.
Their commitment was endorsed when Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Maris Sangiampongsa held talks with Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, during an official visit to Laos on May 30.
Mr Saleumxay welcomed Mr Maris and congratulated him on his recent appointment as Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The topics discussed by the two foreign ministers included closer cooperation in tackling transboundary air pollution, which is an issue of common concern, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
In another area of interest, Mr Maris said Thailand would provide financial support for the establishment of a training centre and a coffee lab in Laos’ Huaphan province.
The two ministers also discussed possible future projects, including the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River in Luang Prabang city.
They also discussed the construction of a sixth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge across the Mekong between Saravan province in Laos and Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand, as well as the building of a railway bridge across the river.
These projects are part of the Plan of Action under the two countries’ strategic partnership programme from 2022-2026.
The two foreign ministers agreed to follow up on various agreements previously made between Laos and Thailand, such as the recommendations of the meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, and the Lao-Thai Joint Border Committee meeting.
They also discussed possible activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and Thailand in 2025.
Both foreign ministers expressed deep appreciation of the strengthening friendship and cooperation between the neighbouring nations, as exemplified by the increasing number of reciprocal visits by high-level government leaders and the introduction of more Lao-Thai cooperation mechanisms from the central to local levels of government.
They also touched on matters of mutual importance on the regional and global stages.
Mr Saleumxay expressed his gratitude for Thailand’s support for Laos’ socio-economic development efforts, while Mr Maris reaffirmed Thailand’s full support for Laos’ chairmanship of Asean this year.
The Thai foreign minister thanked Mr Saleumxay for the warm welcome he received and pledged to continue to support Laos in the coming years, through close collaboration aimed at fostering goodwill between Laos and Thailand.
Mr Maris and his delegation also called on Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to reiterate Thailand’s commitment to further strengthen relations and cooperation between Laos and Thailand. - Vientiane Times/ANN
