Thai Premier Starts Official Visit to Cambodia

Visiting Thai Prime Minister H.E. Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra inspects Royal Cambodian Guards of Honor at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh Thursday afternoon during her one-day State visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Photo: Chey Phum Pul-Chim Nary

AKP Phnom Penh, September 15, 2011 –The new elected Thai Prime Minister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra accompanied by Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and some high ranking officials arrived here on Thursday afternoon for a day official visit in Cambodia.

The Thai Premier delegation was welcomed by Cambodian Minister of Women’s Affairs Her Excellency Ms. Ing Kantha Phavi and other senior officials at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

During her visit, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and his counterpart Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra hold talks on relations and cooperation, trade and investment, tourism, and border, Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Hor Namhong, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.

Ms. Yingluck asked Cambodia to open for the Thai Expo and also sought releasing the two Thai nationals, Mr. Veera Somkwankid and Ms. Ratri Pipattanaopaiboon who was arrested and sentenced for spying in Cambodia, H.E. Hor Namhong said.

In reply, Samdech Techo Hun Sen agreed to the Thai Expo, but for Mr. Veera Somkwankid and Ms. Ratri Pipattanaopaiboon, Cambodia is considering and could propose to his majesty to reduce the punishment step by step because Cambodia has to respect the law, he said.

On the border issues, both leaders agreed to compromise the forces in the demilitarized area in accordance to the hearing of International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague, he said

Cambodia is the third country in Ms. Yingluck’s visit program to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries after she visited Brunei and Indonesia. After Cambodia she will depart for Laos.

Ms. Yingluck, took office last month after she won a landslide victory in the general elections in July.

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul
Article in English by KHAN Sophirom