Cambodian PM pleased to see growing ties with Thailand

 

Photo/CEN

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday that he was pleased to see growing ties and cooperation with neighboring Thailand, a spokesman said.

The prime minister expressed his satisfaction with Cambodia- Thailand relations during a meeting with visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, according to Eang Sophalleth, a spokesman for Hun Sen.

"During the meeting, the prime minister hails the current Thai government, saying that the government has brought stability between Thailand and its neighboring countries," he said.

According to the spokesman, Hun Sen reiterated Cambodia's desire to make the border area between Cambodia and Thailand an area of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

For his part, Prawit agreed that ties and cooperation between the two neighbors have gradually improved and the bad chapter of the relations was over.

The two countries saw strained relations between 2008 and 2011 over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple because Thailand claimed the ownership of 4.6 square km of land next to the temple.

The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in November last year that Cambodia had sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear Temple, and ordered Thailand to withdraw its armed forces from that territory.

So far, the two nations have not started talks over the implementation of the ICJ's ruling.