Hun Sen to attend joint Cabinet retreat in Thailand

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Hun Sen to attend joint Cabinet retreat tomorrow
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CAMBODIAN Prime Minister Hun Sen will come to Thailand on an official visit tomorrow for the first time in 10 years. He will attend the joint Cabinet retreat in a move to improve ties and forge closer cooperation.

The last time he was here was on a working visit in 2005, while Thaksin Shinawatra was still prime minister. Thaksin was deposed by a military coup the following year.

Hun Sen's two-day trip comes as the two countries celebrate 65 years of diplomatic relations.

Werachon Sukondhapatipak, a deputy government spokesman, said yesterday that the visit reflected the excellent relations at the leadership level and of people who will play an important role in promoting stronger bonds between the two neighbours.

He was speaking after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on final preparations ahead of Hun Sen's arrival.

Werachon quoted Prayut as saying Thailand should be an ally with every country with the aim of building trust and partnership for this country's benefit and the region's prosperity.

"Thailand and Cambodia have to work together and cooperate in order to strengthen the Asean grouping. The meeting will discuss the promotion of cooperation on security, the economy and society," he said.

Hun Sen will land in the morning at a military airport and will be received by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. He will then call on his Thai counterpart Prayut at Government House for an informal meeting before the full joint Cabinet meeting.

Hun Sen is expected to take the opportunity to discuss trade and investment opportunities with Thai and Cambodian businesspeople.

He will also hold a reception for the Cambodian expatriate community at Chulalongkorn University.

Prayut will host a gala banquet for Hun Sen at Government House in the evening.

The official Thai-Cambodian Cabinet Retreat will be on Saturday.

The two leaders are expected to witness the signings of four documents including memoranda of understanding on skilled-labour development and the opening of a border checkpoint between Sa Kaew province and Cambodia's Banteay Meanchay province.

There will also be an employment-cooperation agreement.

Hun Sen was close to self-exiled Thaksin. He appointed the ousted Thai prime minister as an adviser to his government.

When Abhisit Vejjajiva took over the premiership, Hun Sen never hesitated to criticise his government harshly.

Diplomatic relations took a turn for the worse when Hun Sen's government elevated the territorial dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Hun-Sen-to-attend-joint-Cabinet-retreat-tomorrow-30275101.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-17

[Ricardo]

Time for a return friendly football-match, hope Thailand wins, this time ?

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/09/25/national/Cambodian-leader-Hun-Sen-scores-five-goals-in-vict-30166077.html