BANGKOK, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nong Khai province in northeastern Thailand and the Lao capital of Vientiane have reached an agreement to turn a riverside border area into an arms-free zone.
Nong Khai Governor Ronnachai Chitviset and Vientiane Governor Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune chaired a joint Thai-Lao meeting on Saturday at a hotel in Nong Khai to discuss concerted measures to bring peace and order to the border area on both sides of Mekong River.
The Nong Khai governor confirmed that the border area on either side of the international river is yet to become peaceful despite cooperation between Thai and Lao authorities.
Both sides also agreed to help each other in case of natural disasters such as flooding, landslides and epidemics.
The Thai authorities raised concerns over possibilities of weapons such as assault rifles and explosives being smuggled across Mekong River from the Lao capital to Nong Khai province by suspected arms smugglers.
Officials said the smuggled arms would be destined for the hands of suspected drug traffickers in Thailand's northern and northeastern border areas.
