On 18 October 2025, Mrs. Maratee Nalita Andamo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, on behalf of the Director-General of the Department of Information, attended the Joint Meeting between the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship and the Lao–Thai Association for Friendship in Savannakhet, Lao PDR. The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Kiattikhun Chartprasert, President of the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship, and H.E. Mr. Ly Bounkham, Chairman of Lao-Thai Association for Friendship. Also in attendance were Ms. Jirusaya Birananda, Charge d’affaires, the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane, Mr. Patt Padhamachit, Consul-General in Savannakhet, representatives from Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Department of Information, and Department of East Asian Affairs, as well as the Ambassador of the Lao PDR to Thailand.

This was the first joint meeting since December 2019. The long pause was due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this meeting was an opportunity to review ongoing activities during the past six years, particularly as 2025 marks the 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Lao PDR and the 32nd anniversary of the cooperation between the two Associations of Friendship.

The meeting highlighted several notable achievements, including the construction and improvement of school buildings, the annual Presentation Ceremony of the Royal Kathina Robes, donations of medical equipment, implementation of public health projects, and football training for youth programmes in the Lao PDR, supported by the Thai private sector. Other important activities includes the establishment of a Cultural Center of Thais with Laos Khrang descent in Suphanburi Province.

The meeting also exchanged views on future cooperation in 2026, aiming to broaden collaboration in various areas such as strengthening private-sector partnerships through information exchange, promoting tourism, enhancing connectivity and cross-border facilitation as well as expanding role of Associations on cultural activities, training, and other academic initiatives.

The two Associations serve as key mechanisms for strengthening people-to-people ties between Thailand and the Lao PDR, which has contributed greatly to the cordial ties between close neighbours and strategic partners, for the continued growth and sustainable development of the two countries.