Cambodia and Laos vow to further enhance cooperation for mutual interest

PHNOM PENH, July 8 (Xinhua): Cambodia and Laos on Friday vowed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields for the interest of the two countries and peoples, said a Cambodian foreign ministry's press statement.

The commitment was made between Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith during the 14th Meeting of Cambodia-Laos Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation here in Phnom Penh.

"The two sides reiterated the shared commitment to further deepen the elevated partnership so as to promote the national development and well-being of their people, as well as to address current formidable regional and global challenges, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic and post-pandemic recovery," the statement said.

The two ministers pledged to jointly enhance peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development within Asean (the Association of South-East Asian Nations) community and beyond, it said, adding that they also reaffirmed their commitment to further promote cooperation in economics, trade, investment, tourism and education.

Besides, they agreed to increase border control within each territory and to take timely measures to prevent all kinds of crimes via patrolling activities to prevent, control, and suppress natural resource crimes, illegal logging and hunting, and other offenses along the border between the two countries.

They also explored ways to further strengthen cooperation on other important areas, including finance, culture, labor, health, industry, energy, agriculture, environment, transportation, information, telecommunication, science, technology and innovation, and people-to-people connectivity, it said.

At the end of the meeting, the two ministers signed the meeting's minutes, which would serve as a roadmap for both countries to work together to uplift the existing partnership to a new height.

The two sides agreed to convene the next meeting in 2024 in Laos. - Xinhua