Prime Minister Hun Sen meets his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh in Japan on Saturday (April 23, 2022). - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
VIENTIANE/PHNOM PENH, April 25 (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): Laos Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh has requested that a bridge be built between Cambodia and Laos to promote closer people-to-people contact.
He plans to visit the provinces which border Cambodia and strengthen cooperation between them.
Phankham’s request came at his April 23 meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen in Kumamoto, Japan, on the sidelines of the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit which ended on Sunday (April 24).
In a social media post, Hun Sen said Phankham plans to visit Laos’ Champasak and Champa Leu provinces – which border Cambodia – to strengthen cooperation between the provinces of the two countries and to highlight the two nations’ policies of promoting and serving the interests of their citizens.
“The Lao Prime Minister also requested construction of a bridge between the two countries. With regard to this construction, he would have to consult further with Lao public works minister,” the post said.Hun Sen added
He said that the bridge would be an ideal way to better link the countries.
Phankham also requested exchange visits between the commanders of the armed forces of the two countries.
He invited Lt-Gen Hun Manet, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, to visit Laos in the near future.Hun Sen accepted the invitation, saying that it was very important to further strengthen military relations between the two armies.
Phankham was committed to implementing past decisions that had been agreed upon, especially the master documents concerning the borders of the two countries, as he welcomed Hun Sen’s upcoming visit to Laos.
He expressed his desire for a continued exchange of views and offered his support for Cambodia’s upcoming commune elections.
Hun Sen expressed pride in the relationship between the two countries, saying that the results achieved by the two will further improve their relationship.
Phankham congratulated Cambodia for holding the Asean chairmanship this year and for playing an “active” role in leading the bloc. — The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
