Joint cabinet retreat scheduled for the weekend
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Thailand and Laos are to hold a joint cabinet retreat (JCR) this weekend to discuss bilateral cooperation including the building two more bridges across the Mekong River, according to an official statement released on Tuesday, the Thai News Agency reports
The meeting, to be held in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai after a recess of eight years, will follow up on several joint projects, especially the development of communications between the two countries and the sub-region.
Construction of the fourth Thai-Lao friendship bridge linking Thailand’s Chiang Kong and the Lao PDR's Huay Sai is underway though no date has been announced for its opening.
Thai and Lao officials will discuss the construction of a fifth bridge linking Bung Karn and Paksan.
The Lao government wants Thailand to speed up the Bangkok-Nong Khai railway, which will extend into Laos and South China.
The Thai delegation is expected to confirm Thailand’s readiness to build infrastructure to link the two neighbouring countries, particularly the East-West Economic Corridor.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will lead the Thai delegation, which includes several Cabinet members and senior government officials to the JCR.
