PHNOM PENH, Oct 31 — Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that his visit to Cambodia achieved success as Thailand and its neighbour were able to strengthen border trade, investment and help resolve Thailand’s shortage of labour.
Speaking to journalists in Phnom Penh after completing his two-day official visit and talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, Gen Prayut said Thailand and Cambodia “must stay as strategic partners” that could create equal advantages to both countries.
He said the two countries must “trust each other for their future and for the future of ASEAN.”
If ASEAN must be strong, its members must also be strong so that each could decide its own direction.
Stressing that his talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday were held in a “positive atmosphere”, Gen Prayut, on his first official visit to Cambodia after becoming Thai prime minister, said discussions covered almost every issue, except the ongoing border problem in certain areas as “both of us agreed that the frontier issue shouldn’t be an obstacle to progress.”
Gen Prayut said he had agreed with Mr Hun Sen to develop five border areas this year and another seven in 2015 to facilitate trade between the two countries.
The two nations also agreed to establish factories along the border to boost production of agricultural produce.
The factories could be set up on either Thai or Cambodian side while peoples of the two countries could cross the border conveniently and smart cards would be issued to workers, said Gen Prayut.
On building transportation route, he said the first priority is to establish such route at Nong Lan border crossing village to help lessen heavy traffic in Poi Pet on the Cambodian side.
Also, more transportation routes could be established and they would be separated from tourism routes, said Gen Prayut.
Four Thai temporary border crossing points including Arn Ma in Ubon Ratchathani, Sa Kaeo, Buri Ram and Trat provinces could be upgraded to permanent status in future.
In order to further boost relations among ASEAN leaders, Gen Prayut said he had proposed to Mr Hun Sen to “at least hold unofficial talks between them once a year” in which the latter “agreed in principle.”
He said Mr Hun Sen also proposed that provincial governors from the two countries should resume meeting at least once annually. Gen Prayut said he would order the Thai Interior Ministry to organise it.
Mr Hun Sen also requested Thai government assistance for Cambodia in response to natural disasters and for Thai hospitals at the border to provide medical care to Cambodians living there, Gen Prayut added.
