According to a press release from the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his visit to Thailand from July 10-12, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Nam Hong held talks with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan Ocha to promote bilateral cooperation in the future.

During the talks, both sides agreed to further promote bilateral cooperation in the coming period.

The two sides agreed on five main points to promote bilateral cooperation; these include holding a closed-door meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council between the two sides at the end of 2015 or the beginning of 2016; ensuring the health of Cambodian workers in accordance with Thai law; and providing vocational training for Cambodian workers.

The issue of land and maritime borders should not hinder trade activities or the interests of the two countries. The two leaders also discussed the need for cooperation between the land and maritime border working groups of both countries to benefit the people of both sides without affecting future border demarcation.

Promoting the establishment of special economic zones to strengthen trade relations and improve the lives of people along the border between the two countries; opening the S'Tung Mot and O Neang international border gates to facilitate the transit of goods; and agreeing to discuss opening four more international border gates in the near future are also among the five points mentioned above.

According to the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade relations between the two countries have recently been on an upward trend, with the total value of bilateral trade increasing annually, from US$4 billion in 2012 to US$4.5 billion in 2013 and US$5 billion in 2014, and both sides are striving to reach over US$5 billion this year.

(According to VNA, VN+)