THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will pay his first official visit to Cambodia on Friday, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, said Monday.

Koy Kuong said it was a routine, procedural visit, and added the trip was originally scheduled for April 18 but had been cancelled.

Koy Kuong said the one-day trip would strengthen bilateral relations. "As both countries have border issues around Preah Vihear, this could be raised at the meeting," he said. He added that seven Cambodian artefacts stolen from the Kingdom by smugglers would be returned by Thailand to the Cambodian Ministry of Culture during Abhisit's visit.