(KPL) At a meeting on the preparation for the 14th Lao-Cambodian Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation Meeting in Phnom Penh on Jul 7, Lao and Cambodian senior officials expressed satisfaction on the growing friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Laos and Cambodia upgraded their cooperation to a long-term comprehensive strategic partnership in 2019.

Both sides reviewed the implementation of the minutes of the 13th meeting of the Lao-Cambodia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation held in the Lao PDR in February, 2019 and cooperation in recent years especially on politics, security, economy, technical assistance, socio-culture, and cooperation in regional and sub regional arena.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, his Cambodian counterpart Soeung Rathchavy, and their respective delegations laid out directions aimed to ensure deeper and more effective cooperation between Laos and Cambodia.

They expressed satisfaction on the progress in drafting an action plan on the long-term comprehensive strategic partnership for the next five years 2023-2027 which is expected to be signed during Hun Sen’s official visit to the Lao PDR next year, on the increased exchange of visits at all levels and people-to-people exchange.

The senior officials agreed to further enhance cooperation on border affairs including the control of illegal activities along the common border, illegal logging and illegal exploitation of natural resources.

They agreed to continue to discuss the finalization of the treaty on border demarcation as the two countries have completed 86% of their joint border survey plan. Both sides agreed to further discuss the settlement of related issues so as to complete the demarcation and make the Lao-Cambodia border a border of peace, friendship and development.

Both sides were satisfied by increased bilateral trade with electricity purchase growing significantly in the recent years despite of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They pledged to promote economic cooperation through organising promotional activities, and implementing agreements signed by the governments and private sectors of the two countries.

The two sides noted that it is necessary for the two countries to ensure integration in areas of basic infrastructure, transport and services, and to open direct flights to promote people-to-people exchange and tourism thus promoting post Covid-19 economic recovery in the two neighbours.

They also agreed to encourage relevant authorities of their respective countries to strengthen cooperation on finance, information, culture, labour, health, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, environment, transport, telecommunication, science, technology, and people-to-people exchange.

They agreed to strengthen cooperation under sub-regional, regional, and international frameworks. The Lao side expressed its support for Cambodia’s rotary chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022. Meanwhile, the Cambodian delegation expressed their support for Laos' hosting of the 13th meeting of the Cambodia- Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area Joint Coordination Committee(CLV-DTA JCC) by the end of this year.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL NEWS AGENCY

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]