Laos, Cambodia assemblies cement cooperation

The legislative bodies of Laos and Cambodia should continue to encourage their respective governments to address border issues to allow the completion of border marker installation.
This proposal was made at a bilateral meeting between high-level delegations from the Lao National Assembly and Cambodian National Assembly held in Vientiane on Friday, led by the presidents of the two legislative bodies, Mrs Pany Yathotou and her Cambodian counterpart Heng Samrin.
Mr Heng Samrin led the high-ranking Cambodian delegation on the visit to Laos from May 30 to June 1.
Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Pany said she was gratified that the two governments were placing importance on addressing border issues, especially their joint effort to resolve the issue by peaceful means while maintaining border security.
Mrs Pany proposed the installation of border markers following the agreements made between the prime ministers of Laos and Cambodia in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 13, 2018, and on December 5, 2018.
She described Laos and Cambodia as neighbouring, intermarried countries that have a longstanding tradition of solidarity and mutual assistance.
Mrs Pany referred to the two countries’ aspiration to build a border based on peace, friendship and development, not allowing the issue to be passed on to successive generations.
The similar customs and mutual understanding of the two peoples, and their past shoulder-to-shoulder fight against the same aggressors on the path to liberation was underlined at the meeting.
The relations between the two countries in various sectors, including national defence and security, and the exchange of visiting delegations at all levels were also highlighted.
The Lao side noted some obstacles in trade and cross-border transportation between the two countries which had contributed to a decline in trade value. Last year the figure stood at US$17.8 million, which was US$3 million less than 2012.
A factor in the decrease was Cambodian authorities not permitting Lao freight transport to cross the border while Lao exporters had to apply for permission from the Cambodian Customs Department for freight forwarding, so that Lao goods needed to be transited to Cambodian transport.
Regarding this issue, the Lao side suggested both countries follow the bilateral agreement on land transport made in 1999, the agreement on bilateral trade signed in 1998, and the Asean Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit.
Both countries have offered more reciprocal scholarships with 15 students from each country to study in the other annually, beginning in the coming academic year. The associated stipend increased from US$150 to US$180 per month in 2016.
Timely stipend payments, delivery of education certification and extradition were also topics of discussion between the Lao and Cambodian delegations.

By Somxay Sengdara
(Latest Update June 3, 2019)