Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn requested that Thai authorities reduce visa fees for Cambodian migrant workers as both countries attended the opening of the Cambodia-Thailand Friendship Bridge at Stung Bot-Ban Nong Ian.
Sokhonn concluded his official visit to Thailand on February 23-24 undertaken at the invitation of Don Pramudwinai, deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister of the Kingdom of Thailand.
On immigration procedures, both foreign ministers discussed joint efforts to legalize Cambodian workers residing in Thailand, according to the statement on the outcomes of the visit released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on February 24.
“[Sokhonn] sought the Thai side’s reduction of employment visa fees in favour of Cambodian workers,” the statement said.
The ministry said that the two deputy prime ministers also presided over the soft opening of Cambodia-Thailand Friendship Bridge at Stung Bot-Ban Nong lan, located in Phsar Kandal commune’s Stung Bot village on the Cambodian side and in Tha Kham subdistrict’s Ban Nong Ian village of Sa Kaeo province’s Aranyaprathet district in Thailand.
The ministry said the checkpoint will contribute to an intensified flow of cross-border trade and investment as well as improved connectivity and well-being among the two peoples.
“[Sokhonn] encouraged the Thai side to broaden the Thai market and lift technical trade barriers in favor of Cambodian agricultural products,” the ministry said.
According to the ministry, both foreign affairs ministers noted with satisfaction the positive trend of the two-way trade turnover as both countries have jointly endeavoured to reach a bilateral trade target of $15 billion by 2025.
