8th Thai-Cambodian JC Meeting opens in Bangkok

BANGKOK, December 25 (TNA) - Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers met in Bangkok on Tuesday for the 8th Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission (JC), focusing on developing cross-border land connectivity. Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkaew and Cambodian Secretary of State Ung Sean co-chaired a preparatory meeting on Tuesday morning, in which senior Thai and Cambodian officials participated. The preparatory meeting agreed that greater cross-border connectivity would further enhance regional cooperation and economic integration among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). High on the agenda of the 8th Thai-Cambodian JC Meeting, meanwhile, include discussions on the development of more cross-border land connections between the two ASEAN neighbouring countries, including opening a new checkpoint and land bridge between Thailand's eastern Sa Kaeo and Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey provinces, the ‘missing rail link’ from Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district to Cambodia's Poipet and the Route 48 linking Thailand's eastern Trat province to Cambodia's Sihanoukville. Discussions at the 8th JC Meeting were set to also include the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on single visa under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) framework, in which Thailand and Cambodia agree to become a single tourist destination for non-visa ASEAN travellers. (TNA)