Cambodia, Laos pledge to promote bilateral ties

Cambodia and Laos pledged on Wednesday to promote their bilateral ties in trade, investment, agriculture and tourism, according to a Cambodian senior official.

The pledge was made during a meeting here between Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and visiting Lao President Bounnhang Vorachith, said Eang Sophalleth, an assistant to the prime minister.

Bounnhang told Hun Sen that the two ASEAN members had much room for growth in trade, investment, agriculture and tourism, and suggested that the two neighbors promote cooperation in these sectors, the assistant said.

"In response, Samdech Techo Hun Sen agreed with the suggestions and added that the two neighbors also needed to boost the development of connectivity infrastructure such as roads, railways, waterways and electric power," he said.

Trade and investment volumes between the two countries are still relatively small. On the tourism side, Laos is the fifth largest source of tourists to Cambodia with almost 370,000 Laotians traveling to Cambodia in 2016, according to a Cambodian tourism data.

Bounnhang concluded a two-day state visit to Cambodia Wednesday. Earlier in the day, he met separately with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Samdech Say Chhum and National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin. Enditem