• Society

Hun Manet, Srettha Discuss Cross-border Security

• By Torn Chanritheara
• September 28, 2023 5:30 PM

PHNOM PENH – Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin held talks on Sept. 28 with cross-border and online security among the key topics.

Srettha is on an official trip to Cambodia, the first ASEAN country he has visited since coming to power. He arrived in Phnom Penh earlier in the day to an official welcoming ceremony.

In talks at the Peace Palace, Hun Manet said he and Srettha had discussed areas of cooperation cordially.

“The talks focused on key areas ranging from trade, investment, tourism, education, vocational training, diplomacy, business relations, people-to-people contacts, and connectivity between the two countries by air, rail and road, digital economy and green economy, immigration-related work to cross-border security and online security,” a readout of the meeting said.  

The leaders also instructed ministries and institutions of the two countries to continue to discuss and cooperate for the benefit of both parties, it added.

The countries also pledged to achieve two-way trade of $15 billion by 2025.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on social media X that the countries will promote closer economic and security cooperation and people’s friendship; increase economic synergy through trade, investment, tourism, border development, digital and the green economy; crack down on online scams and continue border area demining.

Online scamming has been a hot issue in both countries as Thailand has vowed to stamp out the root cause of the problem in his country.

Thai PBS quoted Thai government spokesman Chai Wacharonke as saying that the countries also announced a new era in their mutual ties.

After the talks, the Thai PM handed over a transit and reception centre built by Thailand in Poipet town in Banteay Meanchey province for victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups.