Comrade Choummaly Sayasone arrives in PPenh and pays a visit to the Cambodian Monument of Lost Independence

Laos' President Choummaly Sayasone (R) shakes hands with Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Tea Banh (L) during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh August 6, 2007. Choummaly Sayasone is in Cambodia for a two-day state visit. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Laos' President Choummaly Sayasone (L) walks with Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Tea Banh (R) during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh August 6, 2007. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Greeting the President of a VN client state during his visit to another VN client state

Cambodian school children smile as they hold portraits of Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni (C) and Choummaly Sayasone, President of Laos, in front of the royal palace while awaiting Choummaly's arrival at the royal palace in Phnom Penh August 6, 2007. Choummaly is in Cambodia for a two-day state visit. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Cambodian women wait for the arrival of Choummaly Sayasone, President of Laos, in front of the royal palace in Phnom Penh August 6, 2007. Choummaly is in Cambodia for a two-day state visit. REUTERS /Chor Sokunthea

Comrade Chounmaly Sayasone to visit the Kampuchean comrades next week

Lao President to Visit Cambodia Next Week

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
03 August 2007

Lao President Choummaly Sayasone will lead a delegation to Cambodia next week to strengthen relations between the two neighbors, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

Choummaly Sayasone was invited by King Norodom Sihamoni and is expected to meet with high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Cambodia could raise the demarcation issue and other development issues along the Lao-Cambodian border.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy urged leaders of both countries to discuss trade and border development to reduce poverty for the people who live along the border.

Var Kim Hong, director of the government's border commission, told the National Assembly last week that Cambodia has planted border posts across 80 percent of the 540-kilometer border between the two countries and the two neighbors have agreed to finish by the end of this year.