Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Laotian counterpart pledged to intensify efforts against cross-border crime and promote trade during talks in Vientiane on Thursday, during the Thai premier’s first official international trip.
During the visit, Mr Anutin, accompanied by his wife Thananon Niramit, attended a formal welcoming ceremony hosted by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse.
Both leaders also inspected a guard of honour before beginning the talks.
Thai government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said Mr Anutin expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by the Lao government, noting that this was his first official overseas visit as prime minister.
The occasion also marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries, reflecting their long-standing and close partnership.
Mr Anutin invited Mr Sonexay to attend the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Summit, to be hosted by Thailand later this year, and confirmed Thailand’s readiness to attend the upcoming Joint Commission (JC) and Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meetings in Laos.
Mr Sonexay congratulated Mr Anutin on his appointment as premier, expressing confidence in his leadership and reaffirming Laos’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on shared interests.
The two sides discussed key areas of collaboration.
On security, both governments agreed to intensify efforts against transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking, online fraud and human trafficking.
Thailand pledged to support Laos with funding, training and information exchanges to enhance law enforcement capabilities.
In addition, Thailand has requested that Laos designate its main law enforcement agency to serve as a contact point for coordination with Thailand’s International Call Centre Scam and Human Trafficking Operations Centre, under the Royal Thai Police.
The aim is to enhance cooperation in preventing and suppressing online fraud and human trafficking along the border.
On environmental issues, both sides prioritised tackling transboundary haze and improving Mekong River water management through the CLEAR Sky Strategy, with Thailand offering technological assistance for data collection and public warning systems.
Mr Anutin reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness to host the 8th Meeting of the Cooperation Committee between Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and Laos’ Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The meeting aims to outline strategies to boost bilateral trade, with a particular focus on promoting border trade and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs), in order to achieve a trade target of US$11 billion by 2027.
Progress in transport and logistics projects – including the upcoming fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Bueng Kan-Bolikhamxay) – was welcomed to improve connectivity and tourism.
Thailand is also considering providing assistance for Laos in cross-border infrastructure, such as financing a new Mekong Bridge (Chiang Khong-Luang Prabang) and a rail bridge, alongside a comprehensive Thai-Lao logistics strategy.
The leaders further agreed to deepen energy cooperation to attract green investment and expand joint solar power production.
Both nations reaffirmed collaboration in multilateral forums, with Thailand committing to a constructive role in promoting peace in Myanmar and expressing hope that the upcoming Myanmar elections will mark a key political transition.
The two premiers also witnessed the signings of five agreements, including memorandums of understandings between banks of the two countries on trade, for funding anti-drug cooperation, vocational training equipment and water infrastructure design.