On September 8, 2026,  Mr. Suchat Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, welcomed Assoc. Prof. Linkham Douangsavanh (Ph. D.), Minister of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and his delegation during an official visit to Thailand. The two sides held bilateral talks and jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in natural resources and the environment at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The agreement is intended to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in addressing wildfires, transboundary haze and PM2.5 pollution.

On the occasion, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment presented equipment to support wildfire and haze prevention and response efforts in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited provided 30 leaf blowers, while Gulf Development Public Company Limited (GULF) provided four automatic air-quality monitoring devices. The equipment will support firefighting operations, enhance the efficiency of wildfire surveillance, monitoring and control, mitigate the effects of transboundary haze, and improve air quality and quality of life for people in both countries. Dr. Raweewan Bhuridej, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Mr. Surin Worakijthamrong, Director-General of the Pollution Control Department (PCD); Mr. Songphon Thepnasomanas, Senior Executive Vice President of Energy Solution Business at PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited; and Mr. Sitamon Ratanavadi, Director of Corporate Social Activities Management at GULF, along with executives, civil servants and officials, witnessed the handover. The support represents public-private cooperation under the CLEAR Sky Strategy. Thailand is prepared to share knowledge and experience in wildfire management with the Lao People's Democratic Republic and to coordinate cooperation involving The Royal Rainmaking Project to increase moisture in forests and mountainous areas that are difficult to access. Thailand also plans to send wildfire management officials to provide technical knowledge and training to Lao officials within 2026, strengthening personnel and operational preparedness ahead of the coming haze season.

Mr. Suchat said Prime Minister Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul had assigned him to hold discussions with the Lao Minister of Agriculture and Environment to achieve tangible progress in natural resources and environmental cooperation, particularly in addressing wildfires, transboundary haze and PM2.5 pollution. He said these problems cannot be solved by any one country acting alone and require cooperation in prevention, surveillance, information sharing and efforts to address pollution at its source. The MOU, approved by the Thai Cabinet on August 25, 2026, is intended to promote technical and environmental management cooperation between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Areas covered include pollution prevention and control, climate change response, disaster management, remote sensing technology and personnel capacity development. Regarding wildfires, haze and PM2.5, Thailand will work with the Lao People's Democratic Republic on measures ranging from prevention and surveillance to on-the-ground management. The objective is to ensure that both sides have compatible information and operating approaches, reduce the generation and accumulation of transboundary pollution, and minimize impacts on the public.

From September 9-11, 2026, Mr. Suchat assigned the Director-General of the PCD and the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to lead the delegation from the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on a study visit examining Thailand's management of wildfires, haze and PM2.5. The delegation was scheduled to visit the wildfire and haze monitoring War Room at the Chiang Mai Provincial Center for the Prevention and Mitigation of Wildfires, Haze, and PM2.5. Lao representatives would learn about Thailand's integrated Single Command system, including situation monitoring, data use, force coordination and command procedures through to field operations. The delegation was also scheduled to visit the Chiang Mai Forest Fire Operations Center to observe systematic management practices that could be adapted to the circumstantial contexts of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Mr. Suchat emphasized that addressing wildfires, haze and PM2.5 requires simultaneous attention to “people, information, equipment and international cooperation.” Thailand, he said, would continue working closely with the Lao People's Democratic Republic through knowledge sharing, equipment support, personnel development and joint use of information to improve the effectiveness of prevention and response measures, reduce the impact of transboundary pollution and provide better air quality for people in both countries.