NA President Heng Samrin Optimistic With Cambodia-Thailand Relations

Mr. Sompong (L) meeting Mr. Heng Samrin.

AKP Phnom Penh, June 24, 2011 –Cambodian National Assembly President, Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, has said he is optimistic that the relationship between the peoples of Cambodia and Thailand still exists, and that trade activities between the two countries are continuing despite the border fighting.

National Assembly President Heng Samrin was speaking in Phnom Penh on Wednesday while receiving Thailand’s new Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Sompong Sanguan Bun.

“The objective is not to let the [border] conflict expand to other areas,” he said, expressing his firm conviction that Thailand’s new Ambassador would cooperate with the Royal Government of Cambodia to ensure that the diplomatic relations as well as the bilateral cooperation in all domains between the two nations would be consolidated and expanded progressively.

Cambodia and Thailand have similar tradition and Buddhist religion and the languages are almost understood by a fifty percent, National Assembly President Heng Samrin said, adding, “So the two nations should appreciate the good relations that have been established.”

Whenever there are issues or conflicts, he further said, the two parties should endeavour to find the solutions through any possible mechanism in the interest of the two peoples, and importantly the two nations have to cooperate within the ASEAN framework to ensure that the goal to build the ASEAN Community could be realized in 2015.

Thai Ambassador Sompong Sanguan Bun appreciated the views of National Assembly President Heng Samrin, and said he would endeavour to make the two peoples better understand each other and have the common wish to solve the problems peacefully, and especially to settle the border conflict in order that it would not spread to other domains.

He said he would do everything he could to promote the two countries’ cooperation, not only in trading but also in the culture, education and health sectors.

Also regarding Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, he said the solutions had to be found not only in bilateral aspect, but also within the ASEAN framework, so that the goal in building the ASEAN Community in 2015 could be reached in harmony.

Article in Khmer by PAL SONG
Article in English by Ravuth M.