Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow co-chaired the 23rd Meeting of the Joint Commission (JC) on Bilateral Cooperation between Thailand and the Lao PDR with Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR.

The meeting took place in Luang Prabang on 2 October 2026. It agreed to promote the strategic partnership for common security and development between the two neighboring countries through existing bilateral mechanism at all levels, especially between the border provinces.

The meeting focused on the following three key pillars:

(1) Security cooperation, emphasizing border security, advancement of boundary demarcation work, combatting narcotic drugs, human trafficking and online scams, as well as cooperation on labor issues.

(2) Economic cooperation, focusing on enhancing economic links between Thailand and the Lao PDR in all aspects. The meeting agreed to increase logistics connectivity (border checkpoints, bridges, roads, regulations and digital economy) to boost trade, transportation and development of the border areas, with a bilateral trade target of 11 billion USD within 2027. Collaboration between Thailand and the Lao PDR will be a key component of the regional logistics network which has the potential to connect Southeast Asia with China, Central Asia and Europe. Both sides will also work closely on energy security, with emphasis on clean energy and the ASEAN Power Grid to support future industries.

(3) Social and cultural affairs, focusing on development cooperation, addressing transboundary haze pollution under the Clear Sky Strategy, managing water resources, establishing Nan Province and Luang Prabang as twin cities and expanding tourism collaboration with a target of three million tourists per year.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister visited the construction site of the Chiangman – Luang Prabang Bridge project, which will facilitate travel between two famous tourist destinations – Nan Province of Thailand and Luang Prabang of the Lao PDR.