ID :
354925
Thu, 01/22/2015 - 09:08
Auther :

Thailand, Cambodia agree to boost cooperation on border development

BANGKOK, January 22 (TNA) - Thai Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr has proclaimed his two-day official visit to Cambodia a success, as both sides have agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations and carry on cooperation on the joint development of border areas. Speaking to journalists in Bangkok on Thursday morning after returning from the neighbouring country, General Udomdej, who is also Thai Deputy Defence Minister, said that he had opportunities to meet Cambodian military leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Tea Banh, during which the agreement on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on the joint development of border areas was reached. General Udomdej revealed that both sides also saw sound cooperation on military operations along the common border so far despite minor misunderstandings among low-ranking Cambodian officers and the Cambodian side insisted on following what have jointly agreed, particularly cooperation on the development of some 60 villages along the common border, which will be later upgraded to districts and sister-provinces where cross-border cooperation on their joint development will be continued. Regarding the Thai government's policy on setting up special economic zones along the border, the Thai army chief noted that both sides agreed to cooperate on promoting their border villagers to boost their cross-border trade, while the Cambodian side also agreed on Thailand's proposal on joint patrols to prevent and suppress cross-border offences, namely illegal logging and trafficking of migrant workers. According to the Thai army chief, both sides also discussed reforestation along the common border, which is in line with a project on reforestation along the border of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), initiated by Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha. Besides, Thailand's host of the ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM) and the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM) late this year was also raised for discussions. The Thai army chief paid the two-day official visit to Cambodia from January 21-22 at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart General Meas Sophea, aimed mainly to boost bilateral cooperation along the common border between the two neighbouring countries. (TNA)

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