Strengthening of Cambodian Relationships
Rewritten Article:
Thailand and Cambodia aim to significantly ramp up their bilateral trade to a whopping $15 billion in the next two years, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared during her recent visit to the neighboring nation.
Kicking off a two-day official journey last Wednesday, Paetongtarn attended a grand welcoming ceremony at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh before engaging in a plenary meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. The leaders then oversaw the signing of key documents and jointly launched a logo marking the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Paetongtarn shared that her talks with Hun Manet were friendly and productive. She emphasized, "We share a strong desire to bolster our bond based on mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual advantage."
Reaffirming their strategic partnership, the leaders also mentioned that they're finalizing a joint action plan to guarantee this collaboration yields tangible benefits for the citizens of both countries.
In addition to enhancing their security ties and military cooperation to uphold peace and stability along their shared border, the nations expressed joy over the opening of the Thai Consulate General in Siem Reap and the upcoming Cambodian Consulate General in Songkhla province.
The premier revealed that both leaders agreed to intensify their security partnership and promote closer military cooperation at all levels. She also thanked Hun Manet for the solid partnership between the police forces of the two countries in combatting online scams.
In an effort to combat PM2.5 pollution, they signed a memorandum of understanding for transboundary environmental pollution cooperation. This alliance will enable an exchange of information and capacity building between agencies of the two countries, aiming to bolster their joint fight against air pollution.
The Thai premier stated that both countries are eager to accelerate the development of border areas and are ready to host a joint cabinet retreat in one such region. They also pledged to expedite de-mining efforts along the border and foster cooperation between special economic zones in neighboring provinces.
Furthermore, the leaders vowed to conclude the bilateral road transport agreement to enable private vehicles to cross the border, develop a cross-border rail freight service to reduce logistics costs, and strengthen connectivity between the two countries and beyond.
"Our goal is to deepen economic cooperation and boost our trade from $10 billion to $15 billion by 2027," stated Paetongtarn.
The premier also appreciated Hun Manet's ongoing support for Thai investors, who currently rank as the 9th-largest foreign direct investment source in Cambodia. Moreover, both nations agreed to coordinate within ASEAN to promote regional economic integration and foster closer economic links within the Mekong Subregion.
They also promised to intensify tourism cooperation and progress the "Six Countries, One Destination" initiative, as well as update the border-crossing agreement to streamline border crossings for tourism. Lastly, the leaders agreed to ensure Cambodian workers are recruited through legal channels for their welfare and benefits.
During her visit, the leaders signed numerous documents, including agreements regarding the management, maintenance, and usage of the Thailand-Cambodia Friendship Bridge, an MoU on transboundary environmental pollution cooperation, an agreement on the employment of workers between the two countries, and a labor cooperation pact.
Other agreements included plans for a new bridge at a border checkpoint at Ban Pak Kard in Chanthaburi's Pong Nam Ron district and the establishment of a skills development center.
This ambitious target of substantially increasing bilateral trade between Thailand and Cambodia envisions a strategic timeline, various key strategies, and potential challenges, including global trade frictions, infrastructure development, and policy alignment. By focusing on various sectors and fostering stronger connections between the two nations, the goal appears achievable and mutual benefits seem well within reach.
- The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to progressively boost their bilateral trade to a total of $15 billion within the next two years, with both nations working jointly on a strategic action plan to ensure these ambitions yield tangible results in the field of general-news.
- In order to combat air pollution, both nations have agreed to establish a joint alliance aimed at exchanging information and building capacity between their respective environmental agencies, marking their commitment to foster closer ties in the realm of politics.
- Further advancing their strategic partnership, the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia pledged to deepen economic cooperation, partnering to expedite de-mining efforts along their shared border, improve border connectivity, and increase tourism cooperation, aiming to substantially raise their bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2027.
