Vientiane – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is satisfied with the outcomes of his visit this past week to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, where he took part in the 3rd Thailand-Laos Joint Cabinet Retreat.
In a joint statement, Gen Prayut and his Lao counterpart, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, expressed their commitment to guiding the relationship between the two countries on a strategic partnership for sustainable development in the future.
The two countries signed several documents to enhance cooperation in legal and justice affairs, transport, education, immigration controls, and electricity purchases.
In terms of border management, both nations pledged their cooperation in putting a stop to drug trafficking, with security agencies working hand in hand to crack down on the transportation of illicit narcotics over their borders.
Both sides also agreed to improve border transport rules to facilitate travel and promote border trade, energy cooperation, and the development of sub-regional transport connectivity in line with the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Master Plan. They hope to achieve two-way trade of 11 billion US dollars by 2021.
ACMECS is a political, economic, and cultural organization comprising Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Its role is to bridge the economic gap among members of the bloc and promote prosperity in a sustainable way.
Thailand also presented financial aid of 75 million baht to help victims of a devastating dam collapse in Attapeu Province of Laos and promised to build a temporary bridge and shelter for the victims.
