During 17 - 18 December 2021, upon the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, His Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia and co-chaired the 11th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

As part of the official visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai paid a courtesy call on Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, at Peace Palace on 17 December 2021. Both sides exchanged views on bilateral as well as regional issues, including Cambodia’s priorities and approaches for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022, for which the Thai side expressed its full confidence and support.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and his Cambodian counterpart, His Excellency Mr. Prak Sokhonn, also held their bilateral meeting on 18 December 2021. They welcomed the excellent relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen cooperation in all dimensions, including, among others, promotion of trade and investment, especially border trade, to support a speedy socio-economic recovery from COVID-19, protection of respective nationals, and labour cooperation. The Thai side reiterated its readiness to work closely with Cambodia in support of the latter’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022.

After their meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Cambodia co-chaired the 11th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia, with participation of representatives from various agencies on both sides joining in person and virtually.

Both sides noted with satisfaction the milestone of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations and the fruitful cooperation between the two countries amidst the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the theme “Peace, Prosperity, Recovery Together”, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to support one another’s efforts to reinvigorate their respective countries’ economies towards speedy socio-economic recovery so that both countries can emerge stronger together from the pandemic. They will do so through both enhancing existing collaboration and exploring new opportunities.

Both sides agreed to work together to maintain peace and stability along the border and promoting closer friendship between Thais and Cambodians.

On sub-regional and regional cooperation, both sides agreed to coordinate closely to promote peace and development in the Mekong sub-region and ASEAN, especially as Cambodia assumes ASEAN Chairmanship next year.

Highlights of key outcomes which will benefit the peoples of Thailand and Cambodia, as well as the region are as follows:

1) Speedy socio – economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19

• Both sides agreed on ways to facilitate the resumption of travel between the two countries, such as a mutual system to digitally verify each other’s vaccine certificates, setting up a joint working group to discuss possibility of one-day bubble and seal trips across the border, and more direct flights.

• Both sides noted that Thailand has now resumed the recruitment of foreign workers from our neighbouring countries, including Cambodia, to help meet Thailand’s labour demand and bring more employment opportunity to Cambodian workers. They agreed to work together to ensure that Cambodia nationals seeking job opportunities in Thailand proceed through this legal channel.

• Both sides set a new timeframe to achieve the trade target of 15 billion US dollars by 2025 and will continue working together towards that goal.

• As the ninth largest foreign investor in Cambodia, the Thai side underscored the confidence of Thai investors in the economic potentials of Cambodia and will continue to expand their businesses to create more jobs and incomes for Cambodians. Both sides agreed to promote and protect investments in respective countries, as well as work to facilitate investment flows between the two countries.

• Both sides will also promote cooperation on digital and green economy, including Bio-Circular-Green or BCG Economy Model, to unleash potentials of new technology for future growth and enable both countries to achieve green and sustainable development.

• Both sides agreed to work together to deepen connectivity between the two countries by land, sea and air. They also discussed preparations for the opening of the Thailand-Cambodia Friendship Bridge that connects Sa Kaeo and Banteay Meanchey Provinces, which is currently scheduled for next year, as well as the commencement of cross-border rail service between the two provinces as soon as the situation permits.

• Both sides were pleased that Cambodia has been one of the top partners in Thailand’s development cooperation programme, and would continue to enhance cooperation in this area.

• Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on public health, especially in border provinces, to further strengthen both countries’ capacity to fight against COVID-19 and be better prepared for any emerging diseases in the future. In this regard, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai presented approximately 150,000 US dollar worth of medical equipment and supply to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn to support Cambodia in the fight against COVID-19 at the end of the meeting.

2) Maintaining of peace and stability along the border areas, and promoting closer friendship between Thais and Cambodians

• Both sides agreed to step up cooperation on prevention and suppression of illegal border crossings, human trafficking, narcotic drugs, and other transnational organised crimes. Both sides will work closely on humanitarian demining along the Thai-Cambodian border.

• Both sides looked forward to the official opening of Voluntary and Community-based Treatment Service Centre for Drug Addicts in Preah Sihanouk Province, for the establishment of which Thailand has given financial support of 38 million Thai baht (around 1.15 million US dollars).

• Both sides also agreed to foster deeper understanding and long-lasting friendship at the people-to-people level, including through sports and exchanges among our young people.

3) Closer coordination on Mekong sub-region and ASEAN issues

- The Thai side congratulated the Cambodian side on the successful convening of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 13) in November 2021.

• Both sides agreed to coordinate closely to promote closer economic linkages and sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region through various frameworks, especially ACMECS and the Mekong River Commission.

• The Thai side expressed full support for Cambodia as the ASEAN Chair in 2022 and readiness to work closely with Cambodia to strengthen ASEAN unity and centrality amidst the fast-changing international environment. Both sides will closely coordinate to ensure that ASEAN will be able to effectively address challenges in the region in the spirit of ASEAN family, including with regard to ASEAN’s constructive role concerning the situation in Myanmar.

Both sides agreed to hold the 12th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia in Thailand in 2023 on mutually agreed dates.