Thai PM welcomes her Laotian counterpart

PM Sonexay Siphandone makes his first official visit to Thailand as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra welcomed Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his wife on Thursday with a formal ceremony at Government House that included a guard of honour on the lawn in front of the Thai Khu Fah Building.

 

After the ceremony, the Laotian Prime Minister and his wife signed the guest book before the two leaders held small-group discussions in the Ivory Room.

 

The two leaders agreed to continue strengthening the ties between their nations, focusing on border security, combating call centre scams and drug trafficking, and boosting bilateral trade to reach the target of $11 billion.

 



 

The occasion also marked the celebration of 75 years of Thai-Lao diplomatic relations with a shared commitment to improving citizens' well-being.

 

During the meeting, the leaders witnessed the signing of four cooperative agreements, namely:


A 2025-2027 action plan implementing the memorandum of understanding on justice and legal affairs cooperation between the justice ministries of both countries;
A technical arrangement on rail passenger transportation between the State Railway of Thailand and the Lao National Railway State Enterprise;
A memorandum of understanding on academic cooperation between Mae Fah Luang University and Souphanouvong University;
A memorandum of understanding between Thailand's Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
 
 



 

The leaders also unveiled a commemorative logo for the 75th anniversary of Thai-Lao diplomatic relations. The gold-toned design features traditional Thai and Laotian temple elements, including Wat Phra That Sri Song Rak and Vientiane's Pha That Luang, with the number 75 centrally positioned and adorned with Thailand's Ratchaphruek and Laos' Champa flowers, surrounded by the national flags arranged in a heart shape.

 

In their joint press conference, Paetongtarn expressed Thailand's pleasure at welcoming the Laotian delegation, noting that Laos was the first country to which she made her first official visit after taking office. She then went on to address the three main areas of cooperation.

 

First, strengthening border security, with both nations agreeing to intensify cooperation against drug trafficking through intelligence sharing and joint operations at local and village levels. In this regard, Thailand has already begun implementing alternative crop development programmes in Houaphan and Bo Kaeo provinces. The leaders also pledged closer cooperation against call centre scams, with Thailand offering to use the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework, which Thailand chairs this year, to drive regional efforts.

 

Paetongtarn commended Laos for its crackdown on criminal groups in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and offered Thailand's support for further investigations through its Technology Crime Suppression Centre.
  



 

Regarding cross-border haze, the leaders committed to establishing additional laboratories to monitor forest fires and expanding pilot firebreak projects along their shared border. Thailand proposed connecting Laos’ databases and early warning systems with GISTDA’s systems to improve problem-solving efficiency.

 

For flood management, the PM expressed satisfaction that Thai-supported telemetry systems are helping with water level warnings in Laos and offered to install additional systems, especially in Mekong tributaries, to enhance warning systems and water management.

 

Second, the focus on creating shared growth and prosperity, with a bilateral trade target of $11 billion by 2027. Paetongtarn thanked her Laotian counterpart for facilitating the transport of Thai agricultural products through Laos to China, including increasing train services for fruit exports and adding inspection channels at the Lao-Chinese border crossing.

 

On transportation and logistics, significant progress was reported on reinforcing the First Friendship Bridge and constructing the Fifth Friendship Bridge, which will open later this year.

 

Third, to develop a logistics strategy and support various projects, including a new railway bridge in Nong Khai province, connecting Thai-Lao railways with the Lao-China railway system, and linking Thailand's high-speed rail to the Lao-China network.

 

They also pledged to encourage Thai-Lao private sector joint ventures for regional transport and logistics management.

 



 

In addition, they vowed to strengthen special people-to-people relations, with Thailand offering more than 75 scholarships to mark the diplomatic anniversary and continuing support in healthcare, particularly for medical personnel development and snake antivenom serum, as well as agricultural projects through royal initiatives to improve the Laotian people's quality of life.

 

The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international cooperation, particularly within the Mekong sub-region and ASEAN frameworks.

 



 

In closing, Paetongtarn emphasised that Thailand and Laos share inseparable interests and close neighbourly relations and confirmed her commitment to working with Siphandone to ensure the well-being of Thai and Laotian people and to promote sustainable ties for the next 75 years.

 

Following the bilateral discussions, Prime Minister Shinawatra hosted a luncheon for the Laotian Prime Minister and his wife at the Santi Maitri Building.

(2025/02/20-00:00)