Khammuan: The 14th meeting of the Joint Committee for Maintaining Peace and Order along the Lao-Thai border between Khammuan Province and Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand, was held on September 10, 2025, in Khammuan Province. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Vansay Phongsavan, Governor of Khammuan Province, and Mr. Pradya Oonphetvarakorn, Governor of Nakhon Phanom Province. Representatives from the Lao PDR Consulate General in Khon Kaen, the Royal Thai Consulate General in Savannakhet, and delegations from both sides were also in attendance.
According to Lao News Agency, both sides reviewed the implementation of the memorandum from the 13th meeting held on September 7, 2023, in Nakhon Phanom Province. The cooperation was reported to have been carried out effectively and concretely, aligning with the policies of both governments. The meeting highlighted that this mechanism is a solid foundation for enhancing collaboration and resolving issues at provincial and district levels, thus contributing to peace, friendship, and cooperation along the Lao-Thai border.
The provinces agreed to continue facilitating exchanges of high-level delegations in economics, arts, culture, and sports, often coinciding with important days and traditional festivals. However, the meeting identified ongoing challenges, such as unauthorized border crossings, non-compliant marriages, cross-border trade in prohibited goods, and illegal sand and gravel mining activities.
To address these concerns, both sides approved a draft memorandum outlining eight key areas of collaboration: maintaining border peace and order, safeguarding the border line, ensuring safety and security at checkpoints, preventing and suppressing narcotics, conserving the Mekong River and addressing illegal mining, handling cases of detained individuals, promoting labor cooperation, and fostering economic cooperation between the two provinces. The memorandum was officially signed by Governor Vansay Phongsavan and Governor Pradya Oonphetvarakorn in the presence of both delegations.