Vientiane: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand met with the Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Sonxay Siphandon, to discuss collaborative solutions to pressing issues such as drug addiction, online threats, and human trafficking. Both leaders emphasized the importance of suppressing precursor substances that contribute to these challenges.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister Anutin, accompanied by his wife Thananon Niramis and several key ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, and others, arrived at Wattay International Airport. The delegation was greeted with an official ceremony, where they inspected the honor guard alongside the Lao Prime Minister and his wife.
During the meeting, Lao Prime Minister Sonxay Siphandon congratulated Anutin on his recent appointment and expressed confidence in his leadership abilities. Both leaders committed to strengthening cooperation between Thailand and Laos, focusing on mutual interests such as transportation, transboundary haze, and Mekong River water management under the Blue Sky Strategy.
Security was a significant topic, with both sides agreeing to tackle transnational crimes, including drug trafficking and online fraud. Thailand pledged to support Laos in intercepting drugs and precursor substances through budget allocations and knowledge exchange initiatives to bolster the efficiency of Lao officials.
The meeting concluded with the exchange of memorandums of understanding and the handover of aid to support Lao PDR, symbolizing a strengthened partnership between the two nations.