Cambodian, Lao PMs agree to further enhance bilateral ties, cooperation

Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen and his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh agreed on Monday to further boost bilateral ties and cooperation for mutual benefit.

This is according to a Cambodian foreign ministry’s statement.

The two prime ministers reached the consensus during a bilateral meeting held via a video conference, the statement said.

“The two prime ministers expressed their mutual satisfaction for the cordial relations between the two countries based on the bond of traditional friendship and good neighbourliness.

“They agreed to expedite the finalisation of the draft partnership action plan in order to further strengthen their close ties of cooperation in the field of political-security, trade, investment, education and culture,’’ it added.

Both leaders noted their satisfaction on the significant increase of bilateral trade, which had grown from a mere 10 million U.S. dollars in 2019 to 104 million dollars in 2020, the statement said.

Both parties noted that to boost investment in both countries, they agreed to expedite negotiation of  Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation.

On the COVID-19 pandemic, both leaders stressed the need to strengthen their joint collaboration to combat the disease and address its adverse impacts, it said.

Aside from bilateral cooperation, both leaders also promised to work closely in various multilateral cooperation frameworks, the statement said.