Thai deputy PM meets Cambodian PM in amicable talks

BANGKOK, Feb 17 (MCOT online news) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakhiri and Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at Cambodia's Government House on Thursday in a meeting they described as having a friendly atmosphere.

The meeting was the first meeting of Thailand’s deputy prime minister with Cambodian leader after the border clashes on Feb 4-7 which killed at least eight people on both sides.

The visit of Thai delegates to Cambodia was to attend the first Thai-Cambodian business summit and the Thailand Trade Fair in Phnom Penh held from February 17-20. Out of 175 booths at the trade fair, 150 booths are Thai participators including 53 private companies and 25 booths belong to Cambodian traders.

Mr Trirong said after meeting the Cambodian prime minister that apart from trade talks, Mr Hun Sen raised the border issue at the meeting, asking him to convey a message to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that Cambodia intends to end a border conflict and to cooperate with Thailand for a joint demarcation.

The Cambodian leader also stated that he was willing to comply with a permanent ceasefire and bilateral talks as advised by the UN Security Council but what Cambodia wants to see is a third party from ASEAN or ASEAN chair to witness the negotiation.

“Mr Hun Sen wants to see fraternity between the two countries but he does not want to see a war of words. I told him that the Thai government was careful on the matter but unable to gag other groups of people in the country. The meeting is considered positive for bilateral relations,” Mr Trirong said.