Laos, Cambodia Push To Ease Border Crossing After PMs Meet

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Laos and Cambodia will push to ease cross-border travel between the two countries, allowing their citizens to use border passes to enter and travel within their countries’ borders.

The agreement was made during a meeting between the heads of the two governments, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen in Vientiane on Saturday.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen was in the city leading his delegation at the 13th ASEAN Community Enhancing Opportunities and Sharing Prosperity Forum from August 6-7.

The two sides have agreed to prepare procedures for the official opening of international border checkpoints in the Nong Nokkhiene area in Champassak province and the Trapeang Kriel area in Cambodia’s Stung Treng province by the end of the year, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They have also encouraged the continuation of marker installation in four remaining sections of the countries’ shared border.

Extradition was also tabled in the discussion between the two prime ministers, who had agreed on encouraging the relevant bodies to complete procedures meeting the requirements of the joint implementation of humanitarian policy.

On connectivity, the two sides pushed for the realisation of the construction of a 145-metre bridge across the Xe Lam Phao River in Mounlapamok district, Champassak province connecting to Cambodia and a 72-kilometre road linking Mounlapamok district to the Xe Lam Phao Bridge in order to facilitate socio-economic development between the two countries.

Prime Minister Thongloun thanke d the Cambodian government for their cooperation and support to Laos during the Asean chairmanship, especially Cambodian participation in the 49th Asean Foreign Ministers meetings and other related meetings in Vientiane last month.

He added that he highly valued the Cambodian government’s commitment on continuing support to Laos in ensuring the success of the upcoming 28th and 29th Asean Summits and other related meetings in the capital early next month.

At their meeting on Saturday, the two sides also praised the relations and cooperation between the two countries over the past few years, which they said had been fruitful and persistently enhanced, which is a reflection of the mutual visits of delegations at various levels and the opening of general consulates in each other countries.

Prime Minister Thongloun officially visited Cambodia last June shortly after he was elected by the Lao National Assembly as head of the government.

 

Source: Vientiane Times