Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith visits the Kingdom of Cambodia

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Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith visits the Kingdom of Cambodia

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, in response to the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, is visiting the Kingdom of Cambodia during 12-13 September to strengthen traditional ties of friendship and solidarity, and enhance cooperation.

The high-level delegation arrived in Phnom Penh this morning to an honorary welcoming ceremony hosted by Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Hall. Following the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Hun Sen, along with senior Cambodian leaders, held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and the high-level delegation of Laos.

PM Thongloun expressed his appreciation for the warm and cordial welcome from the Cambodian government and people.  The Lao Prime Minister is visiting the Kingdom of Cambodia for the second time in his prime ministerial term. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith congratulated his counterpart on the success of the May 2019 elections, which demonstrates the confidence and faith of the Cambodian people towards the Cambodian People’s Party.

The two sides exchanged opinions and gave guidance to relevant sectors on the issue of border demarcation along their shared border, ensuring that all prior orders had been implemented. 

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During the visit, the two Prime Ministers signed and witnessed six bilateral documents: a Memorandum of Understanding between the Prime Minister of Lao PDR and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia; an agreement on electricity co-operation, an agreement for the sale of 500 MW of electricity between Electricité du Laos and the Electricité du Cambodge; two agreements on the sale of coal power to Electricité du Cambodge, and a Memorandum of Understanding on labor cooperation.

After completing the meetings and signing documents, both Prime Ministers held a press conference in which they confirmed their strong intention to continue to enhance ties of friendship, solidarity, and mutual assistance.

During the visit, the two sides also agreed to upgrade bilateral relations between the Lao PDR and the Kingdom of Cambodia into a comprehensive and long-term strategic partnership. The two sides agreed that ministries and related sectors will continue to implement the agreements, and these agreements are expected to be more fruitful through a two-way cooperation mechanism: the Lao-Cambodia Joint Cooperation Committee (JC). 

The two parties have agreed and confirmed that the Keng Tor Mor Khoy – Houay Ta Ngao area is still unresolved, so it was resolved that during this period that: 1. There shall be no military presence in this area; 2. There shall be no inhabitants or movement in this area; and 3. There shall be inspections carried out by land, water, and air. Bilateral inspections can be performed by humans or by drones. 

The two sides agreed to maintain the original border demarcation status without any construction that would alter the landscape until both sides completed the survey and demarcation of the border. The two sides also agreed to draft a border demarcation treaty between the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Cambodia in which both sides surveyed and agreed on 86% of the border between the two countries to complete border demarcation.

After the conclusion of the treaty, the two parties will work to demarcate and upgrade existing border landmarks. On the border, the two sides agreed to continue to work towards a comprehensive solution.

During his recent visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Thongloun Sisoulith paid a courtesy visit to the Samdech Say Chhum, the President of the Senate and Acting Head of State, as well as Samdech Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly, as well as laying wreaths at Independence Monument and the King Norodom Sihanouk Memorial.