Vientiane (VNA) – Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin have reaffirmed the commitment to continuing to promote the two countries' good neighbourly friendship and close cooperation, contributing to realising the strategic partnership for the nations' growth and sustainable development.

They emphasised the need to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation during their talks in Vientiane capital, Laos, on October 30.

They two sides discussedand proposed orientations for cooperation plans in the future, underlining theneed to continue enhancing cooperation in areas of cooperation such aseconomics, trade, investment and tourism.

Both sides agreed to promote collaboration in implementing projects onbuilding and upgrading infrastructure connecting Laos and Thailand via road andrailway as well as community eco-tourism projects between the twocountries.

They pledged to continue promoting coordination andcooperation mechanisms between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Laos, andthe Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand to facilitate Laos-Thailand border trade, and supporting each other atregional and international forums.

Siphandone spoke highly of the results of Thailand's trade andinvestment in Laos, as well as the investment projects that the two countriesare implementing together, w🌠hich help promote the growing and highly effectivetrade turnover of the two countries in the near future.

The Lao PM appreciated theinvestment cooperation relationship between the two countries, saying thatThailand is currently the No 1 trading partner of Laos, the third largest foreigninvestor in the country and plays a role in infrastructure development with thegoal of turning Laos, a country that does not have a sea, into a regional andinternational connection point.

The Lao PM hoped that the Thai government and people willcontinue to cooperate and support Laos in the coming time, especially inpreparation for Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of two bilateral cooperation documents, as wellas attended the handover ceremony of an aid project of the Thai government to Laos.

Also on the day, Party General Secretary and State President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and President of the National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane gave receptions for Thai PM Srettha Thavisin and his entourage.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and a high-level delegation of Thailand arrived in Vientiane capital on October 30 for an official visit to Laos at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone. The trip aims to bolster the strategic partnership for growth and sustainable development between the two neighꩲbouring countries./.