POLITICS

Prime Minister Hun Sen left Phnom Penh Monday morning for Vientiane, where he will attend the fifth Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam summit, slated to open on Wednesday.    

Sri Thamarong, an adviser to the prime minister, said that during the meeting the leaders were planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the formulation of preferential policies for the three-country  development triangle, as well as investment agreements between individual countries.

"During the trip, Cambodia and Laos expected to sign the agreement on the promotion and protection of investment between the two countries," Sri Thamarong told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Officials said earlier they hoped trade with Vietnam would top US$2 billion in 2008. Hun Sen and his delegation will return on Friday, he added.