Thailand, Cambodia to promote peace and business along border

PHNOM PENH, April 27 (TNA) - Thai and Cambodian authorities agreed in Phnom Penh on Friday to promote peace and trade along the common border of the two neighbouring countries, which are also members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN. At the 4th meeting of governors of seven Thai provinces and nine Cambodian provinces sharing the common border, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and his Cambodian counterpart Sar Kheng signed the minutes of the meeting, under which the two sides have agreed to promote peace, security and cooperation along their common border covering preventing and suppressing against terrorism, drug and human trafficking and money laundering. The minutes also indicated that Thai and Cambodian authorities concerned would apply swift negotiations if there was any border clash in the future. The Thai and Cambodian authorities have also agreed that Cambodian people holding border passes from Cambodia's Koh Kong Province can travel to Thailand's eastern Trat, Chanthaburi and Chon Buri Provinces and Thai people holding border passes from Trat can travel to Cambodia's Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot and Kep Provinces. To further promote border trade, the Thai and Cambodian authorities have agreed that a new border pass be opened in Baan Non Mak Moon of Khok Sung District in Thailand’s eastern Sa Kaeo Province, adjacent to Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey Province. Besides, a temporary border pass named Chong An-ma in Nam Yuen District of Thailand's northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Province will be upgraded to a permanent border pass adjacent to Cambodia's Preah Vihear Province. Authorities of both countries have agreed as well to study the opening of another border pass between Cambodia's Pailin Province and Thailand's Chanthaburi Province and to promote twin province partnership pairing Thailand's Si Sa Ket Province with Cambodia's Siem Reap Province, Thailand's Surin Province with Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey, Thailand's Sa Kaeo Province with Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey, Thailand's Chanthaburi with Cambodia's Pailin and Thailand's Trat with Koh Kong. Yongyuth also mentioned the necessity to prepare both Thai and Cambodian people living along the border for the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community or AEC by 2015. (TNA)