Delegations convene for a meeting of the Laos-Thailand Joint Commission on Cooperation, held in Luang Prabang on October 2.

Laos, Thailand target US$11 billion in two-way trade by 2027

The Lao and Thai governments aim to boost the value of two-way trade to US$11 billion over the course of next year, as the two neighbours seek to improve transport links, expand economic ties and strengthen regional connectivity.
The target figure was announced at the 23rd meeting of the Laos-Thailand Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, held in Luang Prabang on October 2.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Thongsavanh Phomvihane, and his Thai counterpart, Mr Sihasak Phuangketkeow, co-chaired the meeting.
Bilateral trade reached US$8.4 billion in 2025, excluding electricity exports, making Thailand Laos’ largest trading partner. In the first eight months of this year, trade totalled US$4.39 billion in value, according to the Department of Foreign Trade.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the two governments agreed to improve logistics links through border crossings, bridges, roads, regulations and the digital economy to boost trade, transport and development in border areas.
The meeting also highlighted cooperation between the private sectors of both countries, particularly in the digital economy and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Talks on economic cooperation within sub-regional frameworks and economic diplomacy aimed at creating further business opportunities were also on the agenda.
Improved transport links are expected to support these ambitions. The two deputy prime ministers discussed enhancing the connection between the Laos-China Railway and Thailand’s rail network to better facilitate the movement of goods and passengers across the region.
Currently, Thailand’s metre-gauge railway meets the standard-gauge Laos-China Railway at Thanaleng Dry Port in Vientiane, enabling freight to move between Thailand, Laos and China, and increasingly across the wider ASEAN region.
To connect seamlessly with the Laos-China railway, construction is accelerating on the standard-gauge Thailand-China high-speed railway. The project’s first phase, linking Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, is more than 55.27 percent complete and is scheduled for completion by 2030. The Thai government has announced plans to open bidding in December for the second phase, which will extend from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai and link with the Laos-China railway across the Mekong River.
The Friday meeting also reviewed plans for the construction of the 6th Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge, linking Salavan province with Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand, and the 7th Friendship Bridge, connecting Meun district in Vientiane province with Pak Chom district in Loei province, according to the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting also discussed road development and the Chiangman-Luang Prabang Mekong Bridge, which is expected to facilitate travel between Luang Prabang and Thailand’s Nan province.
The two deputy prime ministers witnessed the exchange of documents on the bridge project and visited the construction site during their stay in Luang Prabang.
Tourism is another important part of the partnership. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two governments aim to expand tourism cooperation towards a target of 3 million tourist visits annually.
Thai nationals made 833,738 trips to Laos in the first six months of this year, making Thailand the largest source of foreign visitors, according to the Tourism Development Department of the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Energy security also featured in the discussions, with both sides emphasising the need for clean energy and the ASEAN Power Grid to support future industries.
Beyond economic ties, the two governments agreed to strengthen border security, advance land and river boundary demarcation, and step up efforts to combat the drug trade, human trafficking and online scams.
The meeting also covered labour, finance and banking, agriculture, public health, education, science and technology, environmental protection and sustainable water management.
Talks also included transboundary air pollution under the Clear Sky Strategy, alongside cultural exchanges and cooperation between their friendship associations.
According to the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting reviewed progress made under the minutes of the 22nd Joint Commission meeting and praised the expansion of cooperation over the past five years in politics, security, trade, investment, tourism and social development.
Relations have strengthened since the two countries upgraded their ties to a Strategic Partnership for Growth and Sustainable Development in 2022.
The two sides also highlighted high-level exchanges, including the opening of the 5th Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge, linking Bolikhamxay province and Bueng Kan province in Thailand, in 2025. The event marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
At the close of the meeting, the co-chairs adopted the minutes of the 23rd Joint Commission meeting, reaffirming their commitment to good neighbourliness, friendship and mutual development.
They also witnessed the signing of a Letter of Intent to establish friendly relations between Luang Prabang and Nan provinces, and exchanged documents on the action plan for Laos-Thailand border affairs.Both governments pledged to maintain regular exchanges between officials at the central and provincial levels to turn their strategic partnership into practical benefits for the citizens of both countries.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update October 5, 2026)