Thailand and Laos have pledged to promote border trade and finalise the boundary lines by next year.
Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith co-chaired the 19th Joint Committee on Cooperation between the two countries in Vientiane yesterday.
Gen Tanasak said Thailand used the meeting to reaffirm its long-standing neighbourly relationship with Laos. Thailand also agreed to improve border checkpoints to promote trade ahead of the transition to the Asean Economic Community at the end of the year.
The 10th Joint Boundary Commission meeting between the two countries was held on Friday. After those talks, the foreign minister said demarcation of the border has already progressed more than 90%.
Both sides have vowed to speed up the process to ensure peace and prosperity at the border, he said.
“We will prioritise communication as we address border problems. A phone call can be made immediately if any problems occur,” Gen Tanasak said, adding that Thailand is committed to building a single community with Laos and other members of Asean.
The state-run Lao News Agency reported that an action plan on water boundary demarcation will be put into place once the land-based border issues are dealt with.
Laos told the Thai delegation that it will upgrade the Phoudou border checkpoint between Sayaboury in Laos and Uttaradit to an international checkpoint this year to promote trade, investment and tourism, the news agency said.
The officials also discussed human trafficking, electricity purchase deals and a project to build a fifth Mekong River friendship bridge between Bolikhamxay in Laos and Bung Kan.
Feasibility studies will be carried out into a possible sixth bridge to connect Saravane in Laos with Ubon Ratchathani.