At the video conference between Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh (Photo: AKP)Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen andhis Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh held a video conference on April 12, theCambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International said in a statement.
At the event, both PMs expressed their satisfaction for the cordialrelations between the two countries. They agreed to expedite the finalisationof the draft partnership action plan to strengthen their close ties ofcooperation in politics-security, trade, education and culture.
They lauded the significant increase in two-way trade, which grew from 10million USD in 2019 to 104 million USD in 2020.
With a view to promoting the trade in goods between the two nations, they reachedconsensus on promoting negotiations on the Agreement on the Avoidance of DoubleTaxation.
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Hun Sen lauded the Lao Government’s efforts insuccessfully containing the spread of the disease.
The Lao Prime Minister took the occasion to thank the Cambodian Governmentfor providing Laos with 2 million face masks and medical equipment to preventCOVID-19.
Both sides laid stress on the need to strengthen coordination in combating COVID-19, and handling its adverse impacts.
Touching on multilateral collaboration, they exchanged views and committed toworking closely within multilateral cooperation frameworks.
Hun Sen thanked the Lao Government for supporting Cambodia in hosting the 12th ASEM Summit and playing the role as the chair of ASEAN in 2022.
Both leaders extended their best wishes to Cambodian and Lao people on theoccasion of the Cambodia’s Chol Chnam Thmay and Laos’ Bunpimay.
Hun Sen extended his invitation to his Lao counterpart to pay an official visitto Cambodia at a convenient time. Similarly, Phankham Viphavanh also invitedHun Sen to visit his country./.
VNA
