On 25 March 2009, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya together with Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith jointly chaired the 15th Joint Commission (JC) between Thailand and Lao PDR in Luang Prabang. After the meeting, both sides held a joint press conference, gists as follows:
1. The 15th Thai — Lao JC Meeting was held to review bilateral relations and to follow up cooperation between the two countries in more than 20 fields covering political, economic, and social issues, as well as to strengthen ties between Thai and Lao agencies.
2. On political and security cooperation, both countries so far had closely worked together in anti-drug and anti-human trafficking projects resulting in peaceful border area. The progress in solving the problem of illegal entering to Thailand of Laotian Hmongs has also been made under the Thai —Laotian GBC (General Border Commission) upon both sides’ agreement. More than 2000 Hmongs had already been repatriated to Laos and both sides aim to send the rest 5,000 Hmongs in Petchaboon back to Laos in 2009. In addition, 96 percent of Thai — Laos land boundary demarcation had been completed and both sides aim to finish the rest within this year.
3. On economic cooperation, Thailand agrees to provide continued support to Laos in developing energy sources and electricity producing projects and will buy electricity produced by the concerned projects. Thailand will also further assist Laos in developing transportation networks such as roads, bridges, railway and airport as well as promoting more investment and trade in Laos.
4. On social and human resource cooperation, Thailand stands ready to further support Laos in technical cooperation, particularly in the fields of agriculture, education and public health.
Earlier in the morning after lining up for alms-giving ceremony—the ancient rite of Luang Prabang people—Foreign Minister Kasit joined the hand-over ceremony of 1.5 km. road to Laos. The road linking the road No. 13 and business area of Luang Prabang will facilitate the traveling of both people and tourists in the areas. Thailand provided fully financial support to the road construction, thus makes the road represent the cordial relations and friendship between the two countries.
In addition, Foreign Minister Kasit donated a 1.5-million-baht grant to the Lao PDR Government to support public health services for the repatriated Hmongs in Pha Lak, Vientiane district.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th