President Thongloun Sisoulith (third left) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (fourth left) attend the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh.  --Photo Lao News Agency

President wraps up Cambodia visit with successful outcomes

President Thongloun Sisoulith has concluded a state visit to Cambodia and returned home after holding fruitful talks with the country’s leaders.
During his visit on May 4-5 at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, the president held talks with Cambodian leaders and attended the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh.
Mr Thongloun met the king and held consultations with other leaders including Prime Minister Hun Sen and President of the Senate, Say Chhum.
The two sides announced their shared commitment to enhancing the longstanding friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries.
“Relations between Laos and Cambodia are at their peak,” the Phnom Penh Post quoted President Thongloun as saying during his talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen.
“But we are united in our commitment to take it to an even higher level. We intend to implement existing agreements and seek to cooperate further in the areas of tourism, investment and security. In addition, we are prepared to offer a unified response to natural disasters.”
PM Hun Sen agreed with President Thongloun, and will work to deepen the relationship, according to the Phnom Penh Post, citing PM Hun Sen’s personal assistant Eang Sophalleth.
The two governments pledged to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in a variety of fields, including anti-tax evasion measures, as well as to fast-track talks on a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
The leaders encouraged the relevant ministries and institutions to effectively implement the Action Plan for 2023-2027 to support the long-lasting and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Treaty on Delimitation of the State Border between Laos and Cambodia, and other agreements made between the two sides.
President Thongloun and PM Hun Sen agreed to continue to arrange regular visits and meetings between leaders, ministries and institutions as well as local authorities in their two countries to enhance the traditional friendship and close cooperation in various fields, including politics, security, defence, economics, trade, investment, energy, education and connectivity.
“Both sides reiterated the importance of promoting bilateral trade and investment and, to this end, they encouraged the relevant authorities to expedite the negotiation of the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income,” the Phnom Penh Post quoted the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as saying.
On May 5, PM Hun Sen and President Thongloun attended the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, watched by about 75,000 spectators, according to the Pasaxon newspaper.
President Thongloun also met Lao athletes taking part in the Games to give them support and encouragement.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update May 7, 2023)