Off the wire
• Ronaldo, Torres's emotions in sharp contrast in Madrid Cup derby  • Tajikistan becomes member of AIIB  • China 2014 outbound investment tops 100 bln USD  • Uganda launches nationwide door to door polio immunization exercise  • Big guns ready to fire as Spanish league reaches halfway point  • Roundup: Roadside bomb blasts wound 6 Afghan soldiers  • Agent, coach cut contact with disgraced Kenyan marathon runner Jeptoo  • S. Korea aim to defeat Australia to avoid quarter match-up with China  • HK bans poultry imports from Japan on avian influenza  • Defending champions Japan lead Iraq 1-0 in Asian Cup first half  
You are here: 　 Home

Cambodia, Thailand vow to advance ties, cooperation

Xinhua, January 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cambodia and Thailand on Friday expressed their commitment to increase bilateral relations and cooperation for the benefits of the two countries and peoples, according to a joint press statement.

The commitment was made during the 9th meeting of the Cambodia- Thailand Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, which was co- chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his visiting Thai counterpart Tanasak Patimapragorn.

"The meeting expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Cambodia-Thailand bilateral relations," said the joint statement released after the meeting, "The two sides are also committed to stepping up our relations and cooperation in all important areas."

In the political and security aspect, both sides are pleased that security agencies along the borders have been able to foster close cooperation. Nevertheless, the two sides recognized that there is an urgent need to address the problem of illegal logging along the border areas.

The statement said both sides agreed to utilize the existing mechanism and action plan to prevent and punish offenders.

On the economic side, they are pleased with the growing trade, investment and tourism.

"Both sides attach high importance to border area development with an aim to turn the border into the area of peace and prosperity," it said, adding that the two ministers discussed a strategic policy to develop special economic zones along the border areas in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province and Thailand' s Sa Kaew province and Cambodia's Koh Kong province and Thailand's Trat province.

In addition, the two sides also agreed to encourage the Joint Technical Committee to resume talk on the oil-rich overlapping maritime area in the Gulf of Thailand in accordance with the international law and the agreement between the two countries in 2001.

The two ministers also placed great importance on the development of regional connectivity, especially the construction of different routes in the region.

"We hoped that the increased connectivity and transport networks will subsequently help support mutual economic growth and people-to-people interaction in support of the launch of the ASEAN Community this year," the statement said.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Koy Kuong, Spokesman for Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the two ministers did not talk over the thorny issue of territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple.

Cambodia and Thailand have been working actively to improve their ties and cooperation after border conflicts near the temple erupted between 2008 and 2011, which resulted in deadly armed clashes.

According to the spokesman, Thailand also decided to return 16 other Cambodian ancient artifacts that its authorities seized from smugglers in 1999 to Cambodia. Endi