The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and the Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) on Tuesday signed an agreement on research and mine clearance in areas near the border.

CMAC director-general Heng Ratana and his counterpart Sittipol Nimnuan signed the agreement in Aranyaprathet district in Sras Keo province, Thailand.

Ratana said the agreement was made with permission from Minister of National Defence Tea Banh and the co-chair of the General Border Committee.

“This agreement was made with permission from the Minister of National Defence Tea Banh and the co-chair of the General Border Committee. The agreement was reached to further collaboration between the two countries,” he said.

CMAC secretary-general Phat Pheareak said on Tuesday that CMAC and TMAC began collaborations in 2008.

“This latest agreement was reached after both sides searched for locations along the border to demine. We have only chosen the locations we have studied to co-sign the agreement. The locations don’t affect border issues,” he said.

In September last year, he said: “The clearing of mines and unexploded ordnance is to be carried out in our respective territories.

“Because we chose the locations near each other, we can exchange experiences and techniques with one another when going down to carry out an operation onsite.”

Last year, CMAC discovered and destroyed 36,000 mines and unexploded ordnance on nearly 6,700ha of plantations and in 487 locations across the country. The government has vowed to clear mines completely by 2025.

A recent report said that currently, Cambodia has 2,100sqm of land containing mines and unexploded ordnance.