Myanmar and Laos have vowed to enhance bilateral cooperation in all sectors with a specific focus on the socio-economic development of border inhabitants, according to sources with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The pledge was made at the 12th meeting of Myanmar-Laos Border Region Authorities at central level in Yangon.
The meeting, co-chaired by Lao Foreign Minister Saleumaxay Kommasith and Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Tin, also discussed bilateral cooperation in border security, economic, education, health, trade and tourism sectors.
Sharing a border of over 230 km, the two countries established diplomatic relations in July 1955.
Both Myanmar and Laos joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997.
Lao President Bounnhang Vorachitch and his Myanmar counterpart U Htin Kyaw exchanged visits in May and August last year, during which an agreement on management of the Myanmar-Lao Friendship Bridge was signed, the first bridge ever to cross the Mekong River between the two countries linking Myanmar’s Tachileik in eastern Shan State and Lao’s Luang Namtha Province.
Source: Myanmar Business Today
