Thai PM to Visit Cambodia as Scheduled: Official

2009-04-13
Xinhua

Despite the current instability in his country, Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva will visit Cambodia as scheduled on April 18, national media on Monday quoted official source as saying.

The prime minister has insisted on his visit here later this month, Chinese-language daily newspaper the Commercial News quoted officials at the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as saying.

It is a custom for an ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) government leader to pay courtesy visits to the other nine member countries, after he steps in his occupancy, added the source.

Sry Thamrong, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's personal advisor, told reporters last week that at least 7 out of 24 pieces of ancient Khmer artifacts will be returned to Cambodia, when Abhisit Vejjajiva visits Cambodia.

These Khmer artifacts were stolen and trafficked out of Cambodia, but finally arrested by the Thai authorities.

Local media also reported that Hun Sen and Abhisit Vejjajiva will discuss the border disputes between the two countries during the Thai premier's visit Cambodia.

[Thai] PM to visit Cambodia April 18 [-Will he really?]

11/04/2009
By THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

PATTAYA : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will pay a one-day visit to Cambodia on April 18, after the border clash between Thai and Cambodian troops last week.

Mr Abhisit and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen talked yesterday on the sidelines of the 14th Asean summit and related summits meeting in Pattaya.

Both leaders promised to look for ways to prevent a repeat of the clash.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, the acting government spokesman, said that during his visit, Mr Abhisit will call on Cambodian King Prince Sihamoni, President of the Senate Chia Sim and the president of parliament in Phnom Penh.

Mr Abhisit confirmed Thailand would help Cambodia build road No.68 linking Chong Chom of Surin province to Oddar Mean Chey in Cambodia, worth 1.4 billion baht.

The Cambodian leader also asked Thailand to consider investing in building Strung Ngam dam linking Chanthaburi and Trat provinces.

Mr Abhisit has also promised to push for maritime natural resources development, which was likely to be useful in the energy field and for national security in the future.

During the bilateral meeting, Mr Abhisit handed over one of seven antiques which were smuggled from Cambodia and seized in Thailand in 2000.

The artifact represents the head of an asura (demon) in sandstone made in the Bayon style in the late 12th century.

The rest will be returned to Cambodia during Mr Abhisit's visit next Saturday.