Kuala lumpur: Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet engaged in a strategic working breakfast with his Lao and Vietnamese counterparts, H.E. Sonexay Siphandone and H.E. Pham Minh Chinh, during the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the meeting saw the Lao and Vietnamese leaders extend their congratulations to Cambodia following the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on a Peace Deal between Cambodia and Thailand. The signing was witnessed by H.E. Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, and H.E. Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia.
The leaders discussed various topics related to trilateral cooperation, emphasizing sectors such as economy, trade, tourism, security, and national defence. They committed to further strengthening their collaborative efforts, particularly in enhancing connectivity with a focus on transportation networks, electricity supply, and digital payments.
In terms of bilateral projects, Samdech Thipadei encouraged swift action in selecting a site for a bridge over the Lapov-Xe Lamphao River with Laos. He also urged the acceleration of plans for the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway and Ho Chi Minh-Moc Bai Expressway connection with Vietnam.
The three leaders also agreed to instruct their tourism ministers to pursue discussions on promoting tripartite cooperation under the 'Three Countries, One Destination' framework. Samdech Thipadei emphasized the role of the private sector in enhancing regional tourism collaboration.
Additionally, Samdech Thipadei expressed gratitude to Vietnam and Laos for their support and participation in the Interim Observer Team (IOT) mechanism, hoping for continued engagement within the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) framework.