Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Follows Up On Prime Minister’s Official Visit to Lao People’s Democratic Republic

วันที่นำเข้าข้อมูล 30 Oct 2023

วันที่ปรับปรุงข้อมูล 30 Oct 2023

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On 30 October 2023, H.E. Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs joined H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister, in the latter’s official visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).

After the Thai Prime Minister’s visit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs held a bilateral discussion with H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, to discuss concrete follow-up of the leaders’ discussions and potential cooperation with the Lao PDR when the latter assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.

Both sides reiterated the special relationship between Thailand and the Lao PDR as close neighbors with bonds in many aspects. The Thai Prime Minister’s visit reaffirmed such unique ties, and both sides agreed to maintain positive dynamism of the bilateral relations through regular high-level exchanges and consultations, including the Thailand – Lao PDR Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation to be hosted by the Lao PDR next year. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs invited his Lao counterpart to visit Thailand, which the latter accepted with pleasure.

Both sides attached high importance to increasing the volume of bilateral trade to achieve the target of 11 billion US dollars or approximately 360 billion Baht by 2025. Thailand expressed readiness to host the Cooperative Plan Meeting between the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Lao PDR in 2024 to discuss trade facilitation measures. Thailand is also ready to host the Meeting between Thai-Lao Provincial Governors early 2024 to promote cross-border trade.

Both sides stressed the need to ensure that all bilateral mechanisms related to connectivity projects work closely to meet the clear timeframes agreed by the two Prime Ministers, including the start of the construction of the 2nd rail bridge over Mekong River (Nong Khai – Vientiane) by 2026, and the extension of cross-border train operation from Nong Khai to Vientiane (Khamsavath) Train Station by early next year to further promote tourism as well as better connectivity with the Laos – China Railway.

On transportation and logistics, the two sides agreed to continue to work closely to effectively minimize time and costs of transshipment of cargoes, both by rail and road, to enhance logistics competitiveness of the two countries and the region. They will also work to expedite the establishment of the Common Control Areas (CCA) at the 2nd Thai – Lao Friendship Bridge (Mukdahan – Savannakhet) to reduce customs procedures at the checkpoint and promote transportation link between Thailand – Laos – Viet Nam.

On tourism, tourism agencies of both countries will work on a plan to jointly promote tourism in conjunction with the 2024 Visit Laos Year.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand took this opportunity to discuss with his Lao counterpart on the plan and priorities for Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024 and expressed Thailand’s readiness to extend its full support.

On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand made a site visit to the Vientiane Logistics Park (VLP) to discuss ways to increase efficiency, reduce obstacles and better facilitate transhipment of cargoes using Thailand-China-Laos rail systems. He also met with representatives of Thai investors in the Lao PDR to exchange views on ways to bolster economic cooperation between Thailand and the Lao PDR.

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