Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart General Prayut Chan-o-cha have discussed concrete measures to promote bilateral trade exchange, with the goal of reaching USD 15 billion in two years.

Both prime ministers expressed their satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade exchange despite the challenges caused by Covid-19, and other bilateral cooperation.

“Hun Sen also asked the Thai side to buy more Cambodian rice and facilitate procedures for the import of more Cambodian agricultural products into Thailand,” the ministry said.

Hun Sen and Chan-o-cha also agreed to task the authorities concerned with expediting the opening of the Stung Bot-Ban Nong Ian International Border Checkpoint and the opening of the “Friendship Bridge” as soon as possible. They also instructed their respective authorities to implement the agreements related to the promotion of border area development.

Both prime ministers stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in education, human resource development, defense and security, tourism, railway connection, clean energy and the fight against transnational crimes such as illegal border-crossing and human trafficking.

Hun Sen and Chan-o-cha also exchanged views on the challenges facing ASEAN and on various regional and international issues of common concern, the ministry said.

January-September bilateral commodity trade between Cambodia and Thailand stood at USD 3.627 billion, up 27.21 per cent year-on-year. Cambodian imports came in at USD 2.972 billion, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia.