On 21 April 2024, His Excellency Mr. Panpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, co-hosted the Ceremony to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Nong Khai-Vientiane) with H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR and H.E. Ms. Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary, Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth of Australia. H.E. Mr. Jakkapong Sangmanee Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and several ambassadors of ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste and Dialogue Partners of ASEAN also attended the event.

The ceremony marked the beginning of a series of activities to be jointly organised by Nong Khai Province and Vientiane to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited members of the diplomatic corps in Thailand to join the event to showcase the tourism and economic potentials of Nong Khai and its adjacent provinces, as well as to highlight the strategic importance of the 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in the regional transportation and logistical connectivity.

The 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is the first bridge over the Mekong River that connects Thailand with the Lao PDR. The value of trade passing through this bridge accounts for over 33 per cent of the total border trade between Thailand and the Lao PDR. The 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is therefore the most important channel for cross-border trade between the two countries, and has played a crucial role in promoting local economic activities, stimulating investment and creating jobs and income for the population on both sides of the Mekong River.

The 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge plays a crucial role in connecting the transportation networks of the two countries and the region. It is the only friendship bridge between Thailand and its neighbouring countries that features both road and rail systems. Thailand and Lao PDR are working on a project to construct a new railway bridge alongside the current Bridge in anticipation of future cross-border rail freight that may exceed the capacity of the current rail track on the 1st Friendship Bridge. The project is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2029. Multi-modal transshipment centres will also be developed on both sides of the bridge, at Natha Rail Station on the Thai side, to handle both road and rail freights. The new railway bridge will also connect with the Thailand's future high-speed rail from Bangkok to Nong Khai Province.

After the ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister also had an opportunity to give an interview to the media on the 30-year commemoration of the bridge, Thai-Lao bilateral relations and cooperation, including Thailand's reaction and action plans towards the situation in Myanmar and the unfolding Israel-Iran situation.