PHNOM PENH – Cambodia and Thailand have vowed to address cross-border issues, including online fraud, human trafficking, and haze pollution, as the Thai Prime Minister pays an official visit to Phnom Penh.

Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the Peace Palace on April 23. Paetongtarn’s two-day visit run through April 24.

Hun Manet said that he and his Thai counterpart agreed to continue cooperation on security matter including information sharing to combat cross-border crimes such as cybercrime, disinformation, human trafficking and illicit trade in goods.

“Cambodia underscored the importance of building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous border,” he said in joint statement alongside Paetongtarn.

The Thai PM said both agreed to strengthen the security partnership and promote closer military-to-military cooperation at all levels to maintain peace and stability along the border.

Paetongtarn thanked Hun Manet for the close partnership between police in combating online fraud and will continue to work together to eradicate this criminal network from the border area as well as mine clearance.

Hun Manet said the two leaders also discussed cooperation priorities. Manet and Paetongtarn presided over the signing of seven documents including on combating transboundary haze pollution, labor, employment, road improvement project and construction of a border bridge. 

“These are concrete steps in translating our shared vision into concrete results,” he said.

On haze pollution, Paetongtarn said the document signed will include information sharing and capacity building to combating PM2.5 pollution.

Hun Manet said he and the Thai leader discussed concrete mechanisms and complementary initiatives of the governments and private sectors of the two countries to promote trade and investment as Thailand is Cambodia’s important trade and investment partner.

He said Cambodia is ready and always open and willing to grow with Thailand in the fields of trade, investment and innovation.

Paetongtarn said both countries will further deepen economic cooperation to increase trade volume to $15 billion by 2027.

The two sides said tourism and connectivity are very important for people-to-people exchanges.

Hun Manet said the countries reaffirmed the commitment to the Two Kingdoms, One Destination framework. Cambodia also welcomed Thailand’s “Six Nations, One Destination” initiative and was happy to collaborate in establishing a joint working group to discuss concrete cooperation within this framework.

He also thanked the Thai government for sending 20 antiquities back to Cambodia.

“These statues are not only antiquities but also the souls of Cambodian ancestors who were lost during the war,” he said.

Hun Manet and Paetongtarn also unveiled a logo marking the 75th anniversary of ties. Cambodia and Thailand established diplomatic relations in 1950.