Talk of opening more permanent border crossings and road and rail links dominated the agenda as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha met his counterpart Hun Sen for talks at the 3rd joint cabinet retreat in Cambodia yesterday.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, hugs Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh yesterday. AFP
Deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said Gen Prayut threw his support behind idea of setting up more border crossings to bolster trade and traffic between the two nations while also setting up rail links.
The nations are now connected in terms of rail tracks but other infrastructure must be built along the route from Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district to Poipet and then on to Sisophon, Battambang and Phnom Penh by 2020, Lt Gen Werachon said.
Regarding land transport, the premier urged the two sides to hasten a deal supporting freight transport across all permanent crossings to enhance logistical operations and ease congestion at the Aranyaprathet-Poipet border crossing.
Gen Prayut wanted both countries to speed up construction of a friendship bridge linking Ban Nong Ian in Aranyaprathet district with Stung Bot in Cambodia.
The prime minister also welcomed the signing of the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and hoped Cambodia would assist Thai investors there.
The Joint Trade Commission will be asked to hold talks to bolster bilateral trade, Lt Gen Werachon said.
Meanwhile, cabinet members from both countries met at the Peace Palace, the office of the Cambodian premier. Over 26 Cambodian cabinet members took part.
"We are both prime ministers so we understand each other. There's nothing to hide," Gen Prayut said.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon called for a list of high-level coordinators who could be contacted to resolve urgent border problems, the spokesman said.
Thai authorities have set up an anti-drug coordination centre at the Sai Taku temporary crossing in Buri Ram and this could be upgraded to permanent border-crossing status, Gen Prawit noted.
The last joint cabinet retreat worked out a two-way trade goal of US$15 billion by 2020, said Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong.
