ID :
349331
Thu, 11/27/2014 - 09:05
Auther :

Thailand, Laos strengthen ties, cooperation

VIENTIANE, LAOS, November 27 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Cha-ocha has met Lao leaders and both sides have agreed on forging ahead sound bilateral ties and cooperation between Vientiane and Bangkok in all areas. After his arrival in Vientiane, Laos' capital, on Wednesday afternoon for a two-day official visit, the Thai prime minister and his entourage, including his wife, Naraporn Chan-ocha, were welcomed by his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong, after which the Lao and Thai prime ministers held bilateral talks and agreed to further enhance economic and social cooperation between the two close neighbouring countries. The Lao and Thai prime ministers also agreed that the development of an economic zone in Thailand's northeastern Mukdahan Province will be conducted in parallel with the Savan-Seno special economic zone in Laos. Regarding tourism, the two countries agreed to promote Thai and Lao attractions as joint tourism packages, while also promoting a cross-border transport link by building the new Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, the fifth of its kind, connecting Thailand’s northeastern Bung Kan Province with Bolikhamxai in Laos. The Lao and Thai premiers later witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MOUs), including those on the second–phase development of a hospital in Laos' Bokeo Province, science, technology and innovation cooperation and financial assistance for the construction of a road in Laos from Hongsa in Sainyabuli Province to Xieng Muan in Luang Prabang. The visiting Thai prime minister later met Lao President Choummaly Sayasone to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring countries in the future, during which Thailand insisted that border demarcation will not be a problem between the two countries' cooperation in border development. The Thai premier then met female President of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathortou, during which he praised Laos for promoting women’s roles in politics and expressed his hope that the two countries will work together to strengthen women's roles in both the national and regional levels. The Thai prime minister is scheduled to leave Vientiane for Vietnam on Thursday for a further two-day official visit and will return home on November 28. (TNA)

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