Thai PM Abhisit visits Laos

BANGKOK, Dec9 (TNA)- Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday (Dec 9) paid a one-day visit to Lao PDR.
Abhisit left Bangkok Thursday morning to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the multi-purpose Nam Theun 2 Dam in Laos before participating in activities marking the 60th anniversary of the Thai-Lao bilateral ties.
The opening ceremony of the dam was presided by the Lao President Choummaly Sayasone and Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh.
The 40-billion-baht Nam Theun 2 Dam project is a joint venture of Thailand,France and Laos, having a capacity to produce up to 920 megawatts power. The project will enable Thailand to purchase electricity from Laos in a stable price and the electricity has been supplied to the northeastern region of Thailand since the end of April of this year.
In the evening, Abhisit is scheduled to attend the ceremony to light up the "Mitrapap" or Friendship bridge to Vientiane--a project that the Thai government provided financial assistance worth 21 million baht.
At 6.00 pm, the Thai Prime Minister will engage in talks with the Laotian prime minister where the two leaders will witness the signing ceremony of 92 kilometer route 11 of Laos where the Thai government provided financial assistance worth 1.4 billion baht.
At 7.00 pm, Prime Minister Abhisit will attend a dinner hosted by the Laotian president before leaving for Thailand at 10.00 pm.(TNA)