Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn has paid an official visit to Thailand at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai during February 23-24.
Cambodian deputy prime minister held bilateral discussions with his Thai counterpart and paid a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha at the Government House.
The two countries agreed to further increase bilateral trade and investment, promote greater connectivity, strengthen security cooperation to maintain peace and uplift the well-being of people residing along the border areas.
Both sides will enhance cooperation to tackle transnational organized crimes especially the so-called “call center” scamming networks, and most importantly, promote friendship and mutual understanding at the people-to-people level.
The Thai side proposed the two countries form a working committee to crackdown call center scams and human trafficking.
Both countries will speed up humanitarian mine clearance in ten pilot zones along the border as agreed by leaders of the two countries.
After holding talks, the deputy prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand officiated the soft-opening of the first ever Thailand-Cambodia Friendship Bridge (Ban Nong Ian – Stung Bot) linking Sa Kaeo and Banteay Meanchey to boost trade and economic activities in border areas.
The construction of the 620-metre bridge was completed in 2019 and all related facilities will be completed in 2024.
About 60 per cent of Thai–Cambodian trade earlier depended on the Ban Klong Luek – Poipet permanent border checkpoint alone. The soft opening of the Thailand –Cambodian Friendship Bridge will boost business opportunities and local economy.
The bilateral trade value between Thailand and Cambodia enjoyed a growth of almost 23 per cent. The two countries target the bilateral trade to reach 15 billion USD by 2025. (TNA)
