Thailand and Cambodia lift strategic partnership and ink new deals

Thailand and Cambodia on Wednesday agreed to elevate bilateral relations to strategic partnership, with the countries' top leaders signed five Memorandum of Understandings for deepening the comprehensive cooperation.

The five MOUs, signed during Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet's visit to Thailand, include disaster management, trade and investment, academic, scientific as well as technological cooperation.

It was Hun Manet's first official visit to Thailand since he became Cambodia's leader last year, aiming to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation and renew the close ties between the two neighboring countries.

Hun Manet and Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin co-chaired the signing ceremony, following which the two leaders held a joint press conference at the Government House in Bangkok.

Hun Manet noted that both countries have been enjoying close, friendly ties on all fronts. He added that the leaders of the two countries also share friendly relations and have been visiting each other often.

He also expressed gratitude to Srettha for not allowing Thailand to be used as a base for people to "interfere" with his country's affairs. "This forms mutual respect and benefit between our two countries," Hun Manet noted.

During a meeting on Wednesday, the two countries agreed to further push the value of bilateral trade to $421 million by next year from $224 million last year.

"The cooperation will focus on border trade and measures to make it more convenient for traders of the two countries to transport goods across the borders," said Srettha, adding that trade barriers should be further reduced.

On the development of border areas, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources in the Overlapping Claims Area and strengthen security cooperation to maintain peace and stability.

Both pledged to make their border free from landmines, aiming to make border areas safe for the peoples of both countries.

Moreover, the two countries will also strengthen cooperation to fight transnational crimes, especially cyber scam networks.

Srettha said the Agreement on Border Crossing between Thailand and Cambodia will also be updated to allow for the use of temporary border passes, longer stays, and access to non-border provinces.

In addition, the two will resume negotiation on the Bilateral Agreement on Cross-Border Transportation by Road to enable border crossing by private cars.

Both sides also agreed in principle to pursue serious talks on the joint development of energy sources in the overlapping claims area in the Gulf of Thailand. "The global situation is affecting the energy security of both countries, and both sides have agreed to tighten cooperation on energy," Srettha said.

To tackle the environmental problems, a joint working work will be established with support from both sides to map our cooperation.

Srettha also invited Cambodia to join the Clear Sky Strategy with Thailand, Laos and Myanmar to work together on fighting against haze.

As next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia, a series of activities will be held in both countries to deepen friendship and understanding between the people of both countries, especially the youths.

"The visit is expected to consolidate the enduring ties and traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries, guided by the spirit of their enhanced partnership for peace and prosperity, bringing mutual benefits for the two peoples as well as peace, stability, and prosperity for the ASEAN community and beyond," said a statement by the Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn