Top diplomats of Cambodia and Thailand have been committed to renewing multifaceted thriving partnership for peace and prosperity in the region.
The commitment was made known in a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued this afternoon, after H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, concluded his official visit to Thailand on Feb. 23-24, 2023 at the cordial invitation of his Thai counterpart H.E. Don Pramudwinai.
According to the source, both Deputy Prime Ministers had an extensive discussion that reviewed and charted a new course of actions on the multifaceted cooperation for shared growth and prosperity between the two Kingdoms, namely trade and investment, education, tourism, labour, connectivity, security and defence.
While noting with satisfaction the positive trend of the two-way trade turnover, they attached great importance to the joint endeavours to realise the bilateral trade target of US$15 billion by 2025. Both Deputy Prime Ministers presided over the soft opening of Cambodia-Thailand Friendship Bridge (Stung Bot – Ban Nong lan), which will contribute to intensified flow of cross-border trade and investment as well as improved connectivity and well-being among the two peoples. H.E. Prak Sokhonn encouraged the Thai side to broaden Thai market and lift technical trade barriers in favour of Cambodian agricultural products.
Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai renewed Thailand’s cooperation in education, including scholarships, through the Thai International Cooperation Agency (TICA). On tourism, both sides agreed to further enhance collaboration under the slogan of “Two Kingdoms, One Destination”, and encourage respective provincial authorities along the frontier to jointly organise events aiming to promote and facilitate tourist flow between the two Kingdoms.
They also deliberated immigration procedures, including joint efforts to legalise Cambodian workers residing in Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn sought Thai side’s reduction of employment visa fee in favour of Cambodian workers. On transportation, the two Deputy Prime Ministers welcomed the improvement of the National Road 67, linking Siem Reap province of Cambodia to Sisaket province of Thailand, and underscored the importance of strengthening aviation cooperation as to safety, security, institutional capacity building and human resource training.
On security and defence, the two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation and enhance coordination between the respective law enforcement officials, and attached significance to peaceful settlement of the border disputes with a view to jointly building a boundary of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. As Cambodia and Thailand are steadfast in realising the goal of mine-free land by 2025 and 2026 respectively, the two Deputy Prime Ministers underlined the importance of early conclusion of demining operations along the perimeter, as instructed by the two Kingdoms’ top leaders. They agreed to continue to enhance partnership in transboundary multi-hazard prevention, mitigation and emergency response.
On regional and international topics, they reiterated the firm commitment to further strengthening cooperation, among others, in ASEAN and Mekong frameworks and assisting Myanmar’s return to normalcy. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn also reaffirmed Cambodia’s support for Thailand’s bid to host the “Specialised Expo 2028” in Phuket, and appreciated Thailand’s support for Cambodia’s hosting of the 32nd SEA Games on May 5-17, 2023 and the 12th ASEAN PARA Games on June 3-9, 2023.
During the visit, H.E. Prak Sokhonn paid a courtesy call on H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, who spoke highly of the excellent all-round relations between the two nations and close cooperation between the two foreign ministries. H.E. Prime Minister emphasised greater collaboration and mutual support by the respective authorities concerned for shared tangible benefits of the two peoples as well as for peace and development along the frontier, including the opening of international points of entry wherever necessary, and the demining operations along the border.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press