Cambodia and Laos Border Crime Cooperation

PHNOM PENH, March 6 (Xinhua) — Cambodia and Laos on Tuesday signed an annual memorandum of understanding on cooperation in combating drugs and transnational crimes, a spokesman confirmed with Xinhua on Wednesday.

The deal was inked in Phnom Penh between Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng and visiting Lao Public Security Minister Vilay Lakhamfong, said Interior Ministry’s spokesman Phat Sophanit.

“Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in combating drugs and crimes along the border so as to maintain security and safety for the peoples of the two countries,” he said.

The two sides also agreed to prevent illegal logging along the border, he added.

Sophanit said both sides also agreed to study a possibility to open a new international border checkpoint to promote trade and tourism, as currently, the neighbors have only one international border checkpoint.

Cambodia shares a 540-km border with Laos to the north and northeast. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-03/06/c_137873460.htm