Chiang Rai, 4 December 2025 — At 9:00 a.m., Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, assigned Miss Preeyaporn Suwanaged, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), to attend a meeting to advance cooperation among Thailand, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Myanmar under the Joint Action Plan of the Clear Sky Strategy. The initiative represents a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with participation from representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and representatives from relevant agencies and organizations, held at The Riverie by Katathani Hotel, Chiang Rai Province.

The meeting aimed to translate trilateral cooperation into concrete and sustainable action to address transboundary haze pollution among Thailand, the Lao PDR, and Myanmar, through integrated collaboration among agencies of the three countries, while also seeking cooperation with ASEAN Member States, including the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia. The program further included a study visit on best practices for highland agriculture at the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, with a view to promoting sustainable, no-burn agricultural practices.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, through the Pollution Control Department, serves as the coordinating agency for cooperation under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and for driving the Joint Action Plan under the Clear Sky Strategy. Thailand hosted the Joint Working Group Meeting among Thailand, the Lao PDR, and Myanmar in April 2025, which resulted in significant progress, including the establishment of a director-general-level hotline among the three countries, the transfer of knowledge on no-burn agriculture, training for forest fire suppression personnel, and the enhancement of air quality monitoring systems for neighboring countries. In the coming year, Thailand will further elevate cooperation at both policy and local levels through a sister-city model among Thailand, the Lao PDR, and Myanmar, with the Lao PDR designated to host the next Joint Working Group Meeting.