Thailand, Laos join forces to secure order along border

UBON RATCHATHANI, June 22 (TNA) - Authorities of Thailand’s northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Province and Laos' Champasak Province have agreed to maintain their joint operations for border security and to start collective efforts to promote bilateral trade and tourism. The agreement was endorsed at a meeting of the Thai-Lao authorities in Ubon Ratchathani's Warin Chamrap District this week, at which the authorities discussed their existing cooperation on border security operations, including prevention and suppression of cross-border drug trafficking, illicit products, arms and ancient objects, as well as the illicit exploitation of natural resources, human trafficking and illegal immigration. Both sides have also agreed to continue their joint land and water patrols along their common border and to maintain three border checkpoints of each other, as well as agreed not to encroach on each other’s land, water and sky territory. The Champasak authorities also proposed the development of the traditional Chong Ta-u (ช่องตาอู) border crossing, standing between Baan Hiang (บ้านเหียง) of Champasak’s Soukhouma (สุขุมา) District and Baan Nong Saeng of Ubon Ratchathani's Buntharik District, into a local border crossing and then a permanent border crossing in the future. The Lao authorities also proposed the development of another traditional border crossing, standing between Baan Sing Samphan in Champasak's Sanasomboun District and Ubon Ratchathani’s Baan Dan of Khong Chiam District, into a local border crossing, aimed at facilitating border trade and boosting relations between local people of the Thai and Lao neighbouirng provinces.(TNA)