Laos, Thailand strengthen cooperation on border security

Laos, Thailand strengthen cooperation on border security
Published 25 December 2019
Somxay Sengdara

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) - Laos and Thailand will coordinate efforts more closely to strengthen border security and together address possible problems between the two countries, and within Asean.

These were the outcomes of the 26th meeting of the Lao-Thai, Thai-Lao Joint Border Committee (JBC) held in Vientiane on Monday.

On the same day, President Bounnhang Vorachit received Thai Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who represented the Thai Minister of Defence, Chairman of the Thai-Lao Joint Border Committee, and his delegation at the meeting.

President Bounnhang said he greatly appreciated the visit of General Prawit in leading the Thai delegation. The meeting was a significant contribution to the maintenance of security and order along the border shared by the two countries. General Prawit’s presence served to enhance the friendship and cooperation between the Lao and Thai peoples, and supported reciprocal visits in the future.

General Prawit thanked the Lao leader for the very warm welcome given to the Thai delegation.

The 26th JBC meeting was co-chaired by the Thai DPM, and Lao Minister of Defence, who is also Chairman of the Lao-Thai JBC, General Chansamone Chanyalath.

During the meeting, the two sides assessed the implementation of the record made at the 25th JBC meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand last December.

According to the Lao People’s Army newspaper, both sides appreciated the cooperative ties at the governmental level, and between the Lao and Thai armies, which they said had gradually enhanced both Asean and bilateral frameworks.

“The real success following the result of the 25th JBC meeting was that border security has been maintained with the aim to build a border based on real peace, friendship, and cooperation,” the newspaper stated.

The two sides also praised the good relations between the two nations which has been reflected in many ways, such as joint efforts to combat drug trafficking along the border and illegal migration.

The Lao side sent nine operational teams to provinces bordering Thailand, and the Thai side dispatched 12 teams under the JBC for coordination and the sharing of information among provinces in Laos and Thailand, and between Lao provincial military forces and Thai border defence forces, and other related units from both sides.

Next year will see the two nations celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The 26th JBC meeting between Laos and Thailand agreed on preparations for cultural exchanges through joint performances and sporting activities.