BANGKOK, Sept 16 — Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra left Bangkok to visit the Lao PDR to boost bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries which are both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Lao trip is the premier’s fourth to an ASEAN country since taking office, to introduce herself to regional leaders. She earlier visited Brunei, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Ms Yingluck and her entourage will leave Bangkok at 1pm from Don Mueang Royal Thai Air Force Base, Wing 6 to Vientiane, the Lao capital and the country’s largest city.
The premier is scheduled to discuss with her Lao counterpart Tongsing Tammawong at the Office of the Prime Minister before presiding over a ceremony to provide assistance to those affected by natural disaster in Laos and for a school partnership programme.
Ms Yingluck will then meet and discuss bilateral issues with Lao President Lt-Gen Chummalee Xayasone at the National Parliament.
The Lao prime minister will host a dinner in honour of the Thai prime minister before she returns to Thailand. She is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok at 6pm.
The visit to Lao will help strengthen bilateral relations in all levels and dimensions. Thailand believes that Lao stability and prosperity can help Thailand build up its own stability and prosperity.
The Thai premier will take this opportunity to increase cooperation and expand trade and investment between the two countries.
It is expected that the two leaders will discuss various issues including cooperation mechanisms, especially cooperation for development, infrastructure project development, and the inauguration of the third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Nakhon Phanom-Khammuane).
