Brigadier General Siphanh Phoutthavong (right) co-chairs a meeting on border security in Luang Prabang province last week.

Laos, Thailand strengthen partnership in border security

Lao and Thai security forces will step up cooperation in border security, with the aim of reducing criminal activities along the two countries’ shared border.
A meeting of the Cooperation Sub-committee on maintaining peace and order along the Lao-Thai border took place in Luang Prabang province last week.
The meeting was attended by the Director of the Military Border Department under of the General Staff Department, Brigadier General Siphanh Phoutthavong, his Thai counterpart, and other security officials.
Attendees reviewed the results of cooperation in border peace-keeping operations and the general cooperative relations between Laos and Thailand.
The Minutes of the meeting stated that border peacekeeping cooperation was stepped up in 2023 when a meeting on border security was held at the Royal Pathum Thani Palace in Thailand in August last year.
The Lao and Thai security forces are pleased that relations and cooperation between the two countries have progressed more formally, based on equality and mutual benefit, enabling the two sides to resolve various problems and improve stability in border areas.
Meeting participants said they were satisfied with the way in which the friendly and cooperative relationship between Laos and Thailand had been developing day by day. This had been brought about through stronger relations and reciprocal visits between the two countries’ Ministers of National Defence and delegations from various levels of government.
The two sides agreed to further strengthen their neighbourly cooperation, share more information, and impose necessary measures in line with the laws of each country.
They also agreed to strengthen law enforcement in border areas to prevent illegal immigration and combat human trafficking, drug trafficking and smuggling, as well as suppress the activities of hostile elements who do not support efforts to strengthen Lao-Thai relations.
In addition, the two security forces will share in work to prevent riverbank erosion and will deploy more personnel to enhance border security.
The two sides also agreed to partner with local authorities and other officials to educate people living in the border area about the law concerning crossing of the border and illicit activities.
To foster military medical ties between the Lao People’s Army and the Thai army, Thailand will invite members of the Lao People’s Army Medical Unit to go for training in Thailand.
Military personnel from the two countries will also share in cultural and sports events.
At the close of the meeting, the Lao and Thai chairmen signed the Minutes of the sub-committee meeting on the maintenance of law and order along the Lao-Thai border.
It was proposed that the decisions made at the meeting be put into practice to ensure that the border area becomes a place of peace, friendship, development and true cooperation.

By Times​ Reporters​
 (Latest Update February 19, 2024)