The Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand have resolved to enhance the relations and cooperation in all fields between their border provinces and continue to establish and defend a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development for the interests of the two peoples.
The determination was emphasised by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H.E. Aphi Santepundit Sar Sokha and his Thai counterpart H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul at the 8th Meeting of the Governors of Cambodian-Thai Border Provinces, held on Oct. 24 at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel.
According to a joint communiqué issued after the meeting, the two sides agreed to enhance border crossing management, strengthen cooperation in promoting cross-border trade and in the areas of industry, transport and connectivity, and labour.
Both sides encouraged the border provinces to facilitate cross-border trade in agricultural products and increase cooperation in forest protection and management, biodiversity preservation, prevention of illegal trafficking in timber, forest products and wildlife, and crackdown on illegal logging and natural resource-related crime in the border area.
Both sides agreed to expedite the official opening of border gates already agreed by the governments of the two countries and to explore the possibility of opening more border gates to strengthen and facilitate cross-border trade and transport activities.
In addition, they pledged to continue to cooperate and support each other in land border demarcation, and reaffirmed their commitment not to let border issues affect the good relations between the two countries.
The two sides also agreed to better cooperate in preventing and combating cross-border crime. They are determined not to allow anyone to use their territory to interfere in the internal affairs of the other party or to engage in any activity that causes insecurity or opposes another country.
At the end of the meeting, the Ministers of Interior of the two countries signed the minutes of the 8th Meeting of the Governors of Cambodian-Thai Border Provinces.
