Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to push ahead with plans to build more travel links and speed up the process to legalise thousands of Cambodian workers in Thailand.
The agreement was made at a meeting between Cambodian National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, who discussed plans to forge further cooperation at Government House yesterday.
Heng Samrin said he appreciated the assistance Thailand has offered to all levels of developments while Gen Prayut pledged that the two countries will continue to help each other.
The two countries agreed to put into practice policies and actions that will strengthen ties. This can be achieved by encouraging more travel across the border, which will be a driver of border trade which needs to be further developed.
People will travel between Thailand and Cambodia more easily, Gen Prayut said, unveiling a list of investment plans on new transport infrastructure.
Rail tracks in both countries will be connected, a new bridge will be built and boat travel from Thailand to Cambodia and Vietnam will be promoted, the prime minister said.
Thailand is also planning to open new border checkpoints with Cambodia.
Gen Prayut also asked Heng Samrin to help step up work on the Cambodian side to verify the nationality of Cambodian workers in Thailand.
Officials are working to complete nationality checks of a large number migrant workers after Gen Prayut late last year invoked Section 44 to extend the nationality verification deadline to the end of June this year.
About 800,000 migrant workers from Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos were reported to be waiting in line for verification.
Thailand will also bolster military cooperation with neighbouring countries to foster regional security in the region.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will meet in Singapore next week with counterparts from other Asean countries and from China to discuss a joint maritime military exercise, defence spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said yesterday.