Thai DPM visits Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, April 27 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit is visiting neighbouring Cambodia on Friday to attend the 4th meeting of Thai and Cambodian governors of border provinces, held in Phnom Penh. The meeting involving seven Thai and nine Cambodian border provinces, scheduled for April 24-27, is co-chaired by Yongyuth, who is also Thai Interior Minister, and Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng, aimed to discuss bilateral cooperation on border trade, border entry-exit policies and anti-cross border drug trafficking and other crime. Yongyuth, who is accompanied by Thai Permanent Secretary for Interior Phranai Suwannarat, told journalists before his departure on Friday morning that the meeting would, however, not touch on unsettled border issues between Thailand and Cambodia. Thai Deputy Permanent Secretary for Interior Surapol Pongthadsirikul and Cambodian Permanent Secretary for Interior Sak Setha co-chaired a senior officials' session of the meeting earlier this week. Participating Thai governors at the meeting include those from Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Trat and Buri Ram. Surapol said that Bangkok and Phnom Penh plan to establish "twin" relationship between Thai and Cambodian border provinces under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya- Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in the future. (TNA)