TNA wrote:Thailand, Laos to open added border crossings
LAOS, Aug 26 (TNA) - Thailand and the neighbouring Lao Peoples' Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) have agreed to cooperatively tighten security along their common border and to upgrade a temporary border crossing point in Thailand's northern Uttaradit Province to permanent status, as well as to open two temporary border points in the country's northeastern region a bid to boost blateral tourism.
The agreement was made at a two-day meeting in Laos, which ended on Friday, between Thailand's Interior Minister Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wanthana and his counterpart the Lao Minister of Public Security Thongbanh Sengaphone.
Under the agreement, both sides will upgrade the temporary border crossing in Uttaradit's Baan Kok District to permanent status.
Two more border crossing points in the northeastern provinces of Nakhon Phanom and Amnat Charoen will also be opened.
The two ministers said they believe that opening more crossing points could boost bilateral trade and tourism.
Simultaneously, the 6th meeting of provincial governors of the two countries agreed to tighten security along the common border and to increase their cooperation in jointly fighting drug trafficking by launching more patrols along the Mekong River and to establish eight additional narcotics control coordination centres.
Both sides agreed to survey a new border demarcation, especially along the Mekong River.
The two countries fought a bloody battle following a dispute on three border villages during 1980s.
Interesting............?