January 23, 2009
Bangkok (ASTV Manager Online) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva traveled with Foreign Minister Kasit Pirom and Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda to officially visit Laos to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Abhisit was welcomed by Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and also laid a wreath at the unknown warrior monument.
He will assign a policy to the Thai team in Vientiane this afternoon.
Joint projects between Thailand and Laos include infrastructure works such as railways and roads as well as the construction of a sport stadium in Laos.
Abhisit said he would not discuss the issue of Lao Hmong migrants with his counterpart as the joint border committee (JBC) already handled the issue.
"There is no problem on the Hmong issue as we have a mechanism to return them home smoothly," he said.
Thousands of Lao Hmong in the northeast live in camps and are seeking political asylum.
Abhisit is set to pay a courtesy visit to Thongsing Thammavong, president of the Lao National Assembly in Vientiane before returning to Bangkok.
