Prime Minister Hun Sen meets the new Lao Ambassador to Cambodia Buakeo Phumvongsay at the Peace Palace on Monday. MPS
The new Lao Ambassador to Cambodia, Buakeo Phumvongsay, has pledged to further strengthen relations between the two countries and increase their level of cooperation accordingly.
Buakeo was welcomed to his new diplomatic post during a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen on April 11 at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.
“Buakeo will do its best to further enhance the relationship and cooperation between the two countries to another level based on the existing good cooperation and relationship,” Hun Sen posted on Facebook after the meeting.
Hun Sen welcomed and congratulated Buakeo on his appointment as the new Laos envoy, in line with his remarks regarding bilateral relations.
“We really have a special relationship because historical factors compelled us to continue to strengthen and expand it forever and now the trade relationship between the two countries has grown stronger,” Hun Sen said.
He told Buakeo that the no-face-mask option was allowed in the three provinces bordering Laos as the provinces recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this regard, Hun Sen asked Buakeo to consider promoting cross-border business activities and consider incentivizing other potential exchanges, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On April 10, Hun Sen announced that people in four provinces should make their own decision whether or not to wear face masks, namely Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear.
Buakeo thanked the Cambodian people and the government of Cambodia for helping the government of Laos and the people of Laos to prevent the spread of Covid-19 through the provision of medical equipment, vaccines and vehicles to transport the vaccines as well than funding, according to the Facebook post.
Last month, Cambodia donated 10 trucks of Covid-19 vaccines, Cambodia’s fourth humanitarian donation to Laos to help increase Covid-19 vaccinations there and further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
In December 2021, Cambodia delivered 500,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines and three truckloads of vaccines to Laos, while in September 2021 Cambodia delivered 200,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines to its northern neighbor and ally.
On March 15, Buakeo presented his diplomatic credentials to Senate Speaker Say Chhum, in his capacity as Acting Head of State of Cambodia during the absence of King Norodom Sihamoni.
Heng Kimkong, visiting senior researcher at the Cambodia Development Center, said small countries like Cambodia and Laos should work together to strengthen their relationship and cooperate more in cooperation, adding that they can learn from each other. and finding ways to navigate nationally and internationally. regional challenges.
“Relations between the two countries are solid, but in the context of great uncertainties, it is important to further strengthen relations in all areas,” he told the Post on April 11.
