Vientiane, February 13 (AseanAll) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Laotian counterpart Sonexay SIPHANDONE said both nations will further boost more economic cooperation.
According to the official Cambodian news agency AKP, speaking at a joint press conference held after their bilateral meeting in Vientiane, Laos on the afternoon of February 13, Hun Sen lauded the progress in the trade exchange between two countries, which reached US$210 million in 2022, up from US$160 million in 2021.
Hun Sen continued that the bilateral cooperation in various areas, including energy, border cooperation, tourism exchange and connectivity, and extradition has been discussed.
The Cambodian Premier said as Laos is the ASEAN’s battery, the two sides will focus their cooperation on energy development both in hydropower and coal power development.
Cambodia and Laos have agreed to promote the provincial connectivity between Preah Vihear and Rattanakiri provinces of Cambodia and Champasak and Attapeu provinces of Laos, respectively, which is favourable for people-to-people relation, he stressed.
“We discussed high-speed rail between Cambodia and Laos and other countries,” Hun Sen pointed out. “The discussion also covered tourism connectivity via road and air […], allowing the tourists to travel to Laos and then Cambodia, and to Cambodia and then Laos.”
On extradition, Hun Sen said Cambodia will return Laotian prisoners to Laos by Lunar New Year celebration in April.
For the border cooperation, Hun Sen expressed both sides’ commitment to doing their best to turn their common border into an area of peace and cooperation.
Cambodian Prime Minister arrived in Vientiane on the morning of February 13 for a two-day official visit, at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Sonexay SIPHANDONE.
According to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during the visit, Hun Sen will also pay separate courtesy calls on Thongloun SISOULITH, President of the Lao PDR, and Xaysomphone PHOMVIHANE, President of the National Assembly of the Lao PDR, as well as receive a courtesy call by the President of Lao-Cambodian Friendship Association.
Cambodia-Laos diplomatic ties were established in 1956. Their relationship was elevated to the level of comprehensive and long-lasting strategic partnership in 2019.
