Cambodia has asked Laos to join as the 165th state party to the Ottawa Convention during the 5th Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty, the Siem Reap Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World. The request was made by Senior Minister H.E. Ly Thuch, First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), during a meeting with H.E. Buakeo Phumvongsay, Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Cambodia, in Phnom Penh on Feb. 5. The Kingdom will be the chair and host of the gathering from Nov. 20 to Dec. 3, 2024. Cambodia will give its all to mobilise resources and seek more cooperation and assistance from development partners and donors to support mine clearance activity in Laos when the latter becomes a state party of the Ottawa Convention, said H.E. Ly Thuch. H.E. Buakeo Phumvongsay congratulated Cambodia's upcoming role as the chair of the 5th Review Conference, welcomed Cambodia's request, and will bring it for the consideration of the government of Laos. The La o diplomat noted that the 5th Review Conference will be a big international event in Cambodia that will attract people from around the world to visit Siem Reap province. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse