On 23 April 2010 Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosted a reception in honour of the new committee members of “Thai-Lao Association for Friendship” after its first meeting (1/2553) at the Foreign Ministry. Earlier, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has approved the appointment of Dr. Virabongsa Ramangkura as Chairman of the “Thai-Lao Association for Friendship” for the term 2010 — 2012.
The meeting agreed to organize the annual meeting of the Association in 2010 in Mukdahan Province in the morning of 10 June 2010, followed by a lecture on the new Lao Investment Promotion Act by lecturers from Lao’s Planning and Investment Ministry and successful Thai entrepreneurs in Laos later in the afternoon. On 11 June 2010, a plenary meeting between the “Thai-Lao Association for Friendship” and the “Lao-Thai Association for Friendship” will be held in Savannakhet, Lao PDR. In this connection, the Thai private companies have expressed their interest to invest in joint-venture businesses in Lao PDR, therefore, the meeting of the Associations will help promoting cooperation in the fields of trade and investment between the two countries.
The “Thai-Lao Association for Friendship” was established in 1994 and has worked closely with the “Lao-Thai Association for Friendship” to promote cordial and fruitful relations between the two countries. The Thai private sector also cooperates with the Association to promote the religious and cultural ties which are common heritage of the two countries. Moreover, the Association plays an active role in promoting better understanding between the two countries, such as the meetings of the two Associations, the offering of the Royal Kathina Robes to Lao PDR, and the sponsorship of various publications and organizing cultural shows to the Lao public.
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