During 31 January – 2 February 2018, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, will attend the 21st Meeting of the Thai – Laos Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JC) in Pakse District, Champasak Province, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), at the invitation of H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR. The Meeting will be co-chaired by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries.

As a main bilateral mechanism driving Thai – Lao PDR relations, the 21st JC Meeting aims to discuss key bilateral issues and enhance mutually-beneficial cooperation in major areas. It also provides an opportunity for the two Ministers to follow up on pending issues discussed earlier in order to make tangible progress. Furthermore, the Meeting is expected to set direction in moving the two countries’ bilateral relations with "Connectivity for Sustainability" as the theme.

Issues to be discussed in the meeting are, inter alia:
(1) enhance connectivity through the development of basic infrastructures, such as roads, bridges and railways, as well as facilitate cross-border movement of goods and peoples;
(2) strengthen sustainable development, based on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, along the border areas;
(3) strengthen labour cooperation through the acceleration of nationality verification process for existing Lao migrant workers in Thailand;
(4) expedite the negotiation on the Agreement on Border Crossing in order to address labour shortage in the border areas;
(5) utilise existing Points of Entries to maximise movement of goods and services as well as people-to-people connectivity, including the possibility of upgrading of Baan-Huag check point in Phu Sang District, Phayao Province to an International Point of Entry;
(6) intensify efforts, cooperation and coordination between agencies to prevent and combat trafficking in narcotic drugs;
(7) enhance judicial cooperation with the possibility of MOU between the two Ministries of Justice to be signed in the future;
(8) energy cooperation;
(9) trade and investment cooperation.

The JC consists of high-level members from various ministries and agencies concerned with the two Foreign Ministers as co-chairs. The Senior Officials’ Meeting will take place prior to the Ministerial meeting and will be led by Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and Mrs. Khamphao Ernthavanh, Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR.

Furthermore, on the sidelines of the Meeting, the two Ministers will preside over the handing-over ceremony of the Medical Services Centres at Paksong Hospital and Bokeo Provincial Hospital. These projects are carried out by Thailand International Cooperation Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, with the contribution from the Ministry of Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai Provinces with regard to the construction of the Centres and the procurement of medical equipment. The Medical Services Centres are to provide the Lao PDR locals an access to standardised and quality medical services without having to commute from their respective communities.