Lao PDR, Thailand to celebrate 70th anniversary of relations

BANGKOK, June 24 (TNA) - Lao PDR and Thailand will celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Deputy Government Spokesman Lieutenant General Werachon Sukondhapatipak told journalists that Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and his Thai counterpart General Prayut Chan-ocha expressed their administrations' readiness to organize joint activities marking next year's 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two ASEAN neighboring countries during their bilateral talks in Bangkok on June 23 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit 2019 and related forums. The deputy spokesman stated that the Thai prime minister thanked Lao PDR's cooperation on addressing the problem of cross-border haze and both countries agreed to carry on joint measures towards the solution to the problem on the sustainable basis. Besides, the Thai leader thanked Vientiane for taking care of Thai investors in Lao PDR, stressing that Bangkok is also ready to support expanding Lao private investment projects in the Thai economy. According to the deputy spokesman, both the Lao and the Thai leaders also discussed the expanded tourism connectivity between the two countries, as well as the upgrade of Lao-Thai border checkpoints to boost border trade and tourism and the launch of common control areas for cross-border logistics in the future. The deputy spokesman quoted the Thai prime minister as saying that the Thai government has also worked out labor measures to facilitate Lao legal migrant workers in the Thai Kingdom. Playing the role of the ASEAN chairmanship in 2019, Thailand hosted this year's ASEAN Summit and related forums at The Athenee Hotel in the capital during June 20-23. (TNA)