VIENTIANE; Laos and Myanmar have agreed to strengthen cooperation on border security and step up efforts to combat cross-border crimes and other illicit activities.
Lao Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith received a courtesy call from Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, General Ye Win Oo, on November 4.
General Ye Win Oo and his delegation are on an official working visit to Laos from November 3 to 6.
Saleumxay welcomed the visit, describing it as an important step towards strengthening good-neighbourly relations and enhancing cooperation between the two countries and their respective militaries.
He stressed the need to make full use of bilateral mechanisms established by the two governments to enhance cooperation in curbing illicit activities along the Laos-Myanmar border.
He also congratulated General Ye Win Oo on his appointment as Myanmar's new Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.
In return, the Myanmar defence chief congratulated Saleumxay on his appointment as Prime Minister of Laos last month.
Saleumxay called on the Lao and Myanmar militaries to continue coordinating efforts to combat various illicit activities along their shared border, including illegal border crossings, transnational crime, telecommunications-related offences, smuggling, drug trafficking and the use of illegal labour.
General Ye Win Oo expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the warm welcome and the support extended to Myanmar over the years.
He also requested that Laos continue to support and assist Myanmar at regional and international forums, as well as through bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks.
In early July, Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation, visited Laos at the invitation of President Thongloun Sisoulith.
The visit was part of activities marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Myanmar and aimed to further strengthen the longstanding friendship and good-neighbourly cooperation between the two countries.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the continued development of bilateral relations, reflected in close political cooperation, regular exchanges of high-level visits and strong mutual trust.
They also welcomed progress in cooperation across defence and security, foreign affairs, trade, investment, transport, energy, labour, education and other areas.
Both sides agreed to encourage their relevant agencies to maintain close coordination and strengthen collaboration in areas including border security, information sharing and cooperation at regional and international forums, such as ASEAN, the United Nations and the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework. - Vientiane Times/ANN
