Cambodia, Thailand reach agreement on several development proposals
Phnom Penh - Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Tuesday to turn their border of conflict into a border of peace, friendship and prosperity, through the creation and implementation of several projects designed for economic growth and connectivity.
The joint committee on border area development and connectivity between Thailand and Cambodia, which was cochaired by deputy foreign minister and foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong, endorsed plans for development projects in the border area.
This cooperation would serve as a model for Thailand in designing border development schemes with other neighbouring countries, Surapong said during the press briefing.
This kind of development cooperation would bring peace and raise the living conditions of people along the border, Hor Namhong said.
The two countries will jointly set up economic development zones in Sa KaeoBanteay Meancheay and TratKoh Kong. Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board will study, design and turn the economic zones into reality.
The committee agreed to develop and upgrade Cambodia’s roads nos. 5, 6 and 48 so that they offer good connectivity with Thailand.
Rail connections were also discussed and both sides agreed to expedite the construction of missing railways: a 6kilometre track from Aranyaprathet to Klong Luk and a 48kilometre track from Poi Pet to Sisophon. This addition would complete the BangkokPhnom Penh rail link.
On the energy sector, the discussion mostly covered Thailand’s plan to sell more electricity to Cambodia’s border areas as well as a plan to have a 1,800 MW clean coal power plant in Koh Kong.
Cambodia proposed to reactivate the Emerald Triangle project to have development in border conjunction areas of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. The project was initiated by Thailand more than a decade ago to develop the border areas initially for tourism but no progress in the development has taken place since then.
Thailand agreed to revive the project and will commission concerned officials to talk with Laos as well as called a meeting on the project soon, said minister Surapong.
After the meeting, Surapong and Hor Namhong signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote contract farming.
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