Thailand and Laos are working on environmental protection and cross-border connectivity, with both sides focusing on tackling forest fires, transboundary haze and PM2.5 pollution while advancing a 1.78-billion-baht bridge project expected to boost trade and tourism.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin on Wednesday took Lao Minister of Agriculture and Environment Linkham Douangsavanh and his delegation to pay a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri at Government House. The talks focused on forest fires, transboundary haze, air pollution and broader natural-resource management.
Mr Songsak thanked Laos for its cooperation, including the exchange of knowledge, experience, air-quality information and training for officials. He called for faster, more systematic sharing of hotspot data, forest-fire information, air-quality readings, and modern firefighting technologies to enable authorities on both sides to respond more quickly.
Thailand also pledged to implement a joint action plan under the CLEAR Sky Strategy 2024-2030, covering air-quality monitoring, sustainable agriculture, forest-fire prevention, haze forecasting and communication between relevant agencies.
Bangkok also offered to share expertise in rainmaking operations, particularly to increase moisture in forests and mountainous areas that are difficult to access. The countries will also explore economic measures to reduce agricultural and transport-related emissions, promote biomass energy and turn agricultural waste into value-added products, with the aim of reducing open burning.
The talks coincided with the cabinet approval of 1.78 billion baht in assistance to Laos for construction of the Chiang Man-Luang Prabang Bridge. Half of the funding will come from Thailand’s annual budget, while the rest will be borrowed by the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency from domestic financial institutions.
The bridge is expected to increase connectivity between Thailand and Laos, boost trade between Nan and Luang Prabang and cut travel time by at least 30-45 minutes. It will also replace the Mekong ferry crossing, making the movement of people and goods more convenient and safer.
The government expects the project to attract an additional average of 80,000 tourists annually to Nan during its first five years, generating about 360 million baht in additional yearly tourism revenue. The initiatives show the neighbours’ efforts to deepen cooperation beyond traditional trade and transport links, with environmental management, sustainable development, and regional connectivity becoming increasingly interconnected priorities.