In a significant move, Cambodia and Thailand have elevated their bilateral relations to the level of Strategic Partnership, marking a new era in their long-standing friendship and cooperation. On February 7, 2024, Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet made his first official visit to Thailand, where he met with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
The two-day visit aimed to further strengthen the close ties of traditional friendship, good neighbourliness, and multifaceted cooperation between the two kingdoms. During the meeting, Samdech Thipadei was granted a royal audience with Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, as well as courtesy calls on senior government officials.
The two prime ministers held in-depth discussions on a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation, including politics, trade, investment, tourism, education, labour, culture, transport and connectivity, agriculture, environment, defence and security, and people-to-people ties. They also agreed to resume meetings of bilateral-cooperation mechanisms, such as the Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR), the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JC), the General Border Committee (GBC), and the Joint Trade Committee (JTC).
Key Areas of Cooperation
- Trade: The two prime ministers acknowledged the important role of the private sector in promoting trade and investment between the two countries. They agreed to increase trade between Cambodia and Thailand to its full potential, with Thailand hosting the Seventh Joint Trade Committee Meeting at ministerial level in early May.
- Tourism: The two leaders tasked their tourism ministers to continue promoting the “Two Kingdoms, One Destination” mechanism to attract more tourists to the two nations. They also agreed to explore ways and means to facilitate cross-border travel for tourists from Cambodia, Thailand, and third countries.
- Transboundary haze pollution: The two prime ministers agreed to further strengthen cooperation on transboundary haze pollution to ensure clean air for the people of the two nations.
- Cybersecurity: Both leaders expressed their resolve to strengthen close cooperation in fighting transnational crimes such as illicit drug smuggling, trafficking in persons, online scams, and cybersecurity.
The two prime ministers also agreed to establish a Cambodian Consulate-General in Songkhla and a Thai Consulate-General in Siem Reap. Samdech Thipadei expressed his appreciation to the Royal Thai Government for reducing fees for work visas from 2,000 baht to 500 baht over four years.
Conclusion
The elevation of Cambodia-Thailand relations to Strategic Partnership marks a significant milestone in their long-standing friendship and cooperation. The two prime ministers have pledged to deepen their cooperation in various areas, including trade, tourism, security, and people-to-people ties. This partnership is expected to bring about more concrete benefits to the two kingdoms and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.