The recent upgrading of Myanmar-Lao border checkpoints to meet international standard on the respective sides will boost arrivals of world tourists and those from the third countries visiting the two border areas, said the local Weekly Eleven News Monday.

 

Besides expected increase of tourist arrivals, the natural scenic beauty and simple traditional lifestyle of the local peoples can also be explored and will contribute to the promotion of standard of the regional people economically and socially, the weekly quoted border area inhabitants as saying.

 

One upgraded border checkpoint each on the respective sides was inaugurated on Jan. 29 with Wan Pong in Tachilek of Eastern Shan state on the Myanmar side and Ban Muang Mom on the Lao side.

 

Mekong River flows between the two towns as a border line.

 

Meanwhile, Myanmar and Laos have been placing emphasis on peace and security and development in the two countries' border areas, cooperating in drug control and agreeing to prevent trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances, and control banned chemicals.

 

Both Myanmar and Laos are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2007)