Lao PDR, Thailand relations strengthened

BANGKOK, February 21 (TNA) - Thai Army Chief General Chalermchai Sittisart has returned to Bangkok from his two-day trip to Lao PDR, saying that military ties between the two neighboring countries have been strengthened. Speaking to journalists upon his arrival at the Royal Thai Air Force Airport in Bangkok's Don Muang area on Tuesday, General Chalermchai revealed that during his visit to Lao PDR on February 20-21, he met Lao high-ranking military officers and discussed various fields of cooperation, namely anti-drug trafficking and terrorism, mitigation of natural disasters and military medics. The army commander-in-chief stressed that military ties between Lao PDR and Thailand have been strengthened through bilateral talks at several levels and exchange of visits between senior military officers of both countries. According to the Thai army chief, he also touched on movements by a group of people through their social media networks, using Lao PDR as their base to defame the Thai monarchy. "Lao PDR has acknowledged Thailand’s concerns and the two countries’ security agencies have worked closely on the issue", noted the Thai army chief. (TNA)