THAILAND and Laos have agreed to reopen their border checkpoints soon as both countries continue their push to fully reopen their borders in an effort to restore their battered economies.
Thai government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the decision was made after Lao ambassador to Thailand Seng Soukhathivong paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
He said Gen Prayut told that the planned official visit to Thailand by Laos Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh in the middle of the year would be a good opportunity to elevate both country’s relations to a strategic partnership for growth and sustainable development.
According to the Bangkok Post, the Lao ambassador thanked the Thai government for providing assistance during the flood disaster in 2019 and for Covid-19 medical supplies.
They also agreed on key issues including a plan to reopen cross-border checkpoints to increase the value of border trade and boost economic recovery.
To attract more Thai investors to use the newly launched Laos-China railway services, Gen Prayut called on Vientiane to consider streamlining its customs process and revise the fees collected at the Thanaleng Dry Port and Vientiane Logistics Park.
He also asked the Lao government to consider developing the R12 route connecting the borders of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, which would benefit local communities, Thanakorn said.
Meanwhile, the Vientiane Times said Russia has expressed an interest in developing tourism with Laos and enable Lao and Russian citizens to more easily visit each other’s countries.
Russian ambassador to Laos Vladimir A. Kalinin recently held talks with Lao Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket to discuss on this.
Vladimir had requested that Russian language be added to the Lao tourism website while suggesting that Russia would also add Lao language to its own national tourism portal.
This is so that people in both countries could more easily access information about each other’s tourism attractions.
He also suggested that tour operators in Laos and Russia cooperate more closely to strengthen ties in tourism.
According to 2019 Laos government data, out of a total of 4,791,065 visitors that year, some 12,054 of them were Russian.
The two sides also discussed the Asean Single Window Visa, which would allow Russian citizens to more easily visit Laos and other Asean countries.
According to the report, Russia hopes to sign a cultural cooperation agreement with Laos, which may be completed during the upcoming Laos-Russia Joint Commission Meeting, where trade, economic, and technological cooperation is discussed and enhanced.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov visited Laos in July last year and pledged to increase cooperation in various fields including military affairs and science and technology.
Russia is among the first countries to donate Covid-19 vaccines to Laos, as well as announcing it will provide a US$12 million upgrade to Mittaphab Hospital, one of Laos’ major central hospitals.
Source: New Straits Times
