LUANG PRABANG, APRIL 30, 2026, 09:30 AM — Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), accompanied by Dr. Raweewan Bhuridej, Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry’s executive leadership, conducted an official visit to Luang Prabang Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The delegation engaged in policy-level discussions regarding environmental management and the conservation of the Luang Prabang World Heritage site. The meetings were held with the Governor of Luang Prabang, alongside executives from the World Heritage Protection Division, the Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry of Luang Prabang Province.

The discussions focused on several key issues, including environmental management within the old town district through the exchange of concepts on waste management, wastewater treatment, and pollution control in conservation areas to preserve the aesthetics and ecosystem of the World Heritage City. Furthermore, the parties addressed the stewardship and conservation of the Luang Prabang World Heritage site to ensure a balance between tourism promotion and the preservation of universal values. This included local environmental management through the establishment of cooperation mechanisms for the transfer of knowledge and technology in natural resource management at the community level. This dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening environmental cooperation between Thailand and the Lao PDR, particularly in Luang Prabang, which possesses immense historical, cultural, and natural resource value.

Mr. Suchart Chomklin stated: “Luang Prabang is not only the heritage of the Lao people, but also a heritage site for the ASEAN region and the world. Preserving this beauty requires robust environmental management. This visit to strengthen environmental cooperation between Thailand and the Lao PDR serves as an exchange of experiences in managing the Luang Prabang World Heritage site—a 'living city' similar to Chiang Mai-Lanna, which Thailand has nominated for World Heritage registration. Currently, we are preparing for the on-site evaluation prior to the consideration of the World Heritage Committee. However, the most important aspect is that once registered as a World Heritage site, we must address the challenges of maintaining the site’s value over the long term in a permanently sustainable manner.”

As a result of the discussions, both parties agreed to develop a joint Action Plan to organize knowledge-sharing activities among officials. This initiative aims to ensure that Luang Prabang implements effective environmental management and serves as a model for a living World Heritage City. This cooperation emphasizes the role of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as the primary agency driving systematic environmental work, while integrating cooperation with all sectors at both the national and regional levels to elevate natural resource and environmental management standards to international levels and improve the long-term quality of life for the people.