At the 21st meeting of the Thai-Lao General Border Committee (GBC) in Bangkok on Friday, officials discussed boosting border trade ties and speeding up border demarcation, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said.
Gen Prawit, who is also deputy prime minister, said after the meeting with his Lao counterpart, Sengnouane Xayalath and the Lao delegation that both sides exchanged views and made progress on the topic of border cooperation, especially border demarcation, which Laos wants to be done as quickly as possible.
"We discussed border ties in general with the focus on security issues and we jointly agreed to speed up demarcation, aiming to complete it as soon as possible. We would like to make a clear border demarcation and we want to maintain peace along the Mekong River," he said, adding that an agreement on demarcation could be signed soon.
Both sides have been demarcating the border since 1996. Last year, the previous government disclosed that out of the 736km of shared border, 676km has been demarcated. The two countries plan to finish the land boundary distinction in 2015, and the river boundary in 2017.
The demarcation is the responsibility of the Thai-Lao Joint Commission and the framework for the border falls under the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).
Gen Prawit also said the issue of combating drugs along the border was raised and both countries pledged to tackle the problem at all levels with the help of the police and military.
Gen Prawit added that his Lao counterpart supports the idea of a special economic zone in Nong Khai, due to the potential for a high volume of trade and since it will boost cross-border relations.
"Laos has expressed its full support over the special economic zone in Nong Khai as it will benefit both sides in term of trade and transportation," he said.
The two governments also agreed to maintain order and stability along the border in a bid to promote the area as a border of peace and friendship, according to Gen Prawit.