Laos, Cambodia sign agreements during Cambodian PM's visit

Laos and Cambodia have signed several bilateral cooperation agreements as a further enhancement of bilateral relations and strong cooperation between the two countries. The agreements were signed by relevant ministers and witnessed by Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the first day of Hun Sen's two-day trip to Laos from Feb. 6 to 7. The agreements included four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)s. Agreements covered health cooperation, legal and judicial cultural cooperation, establishment of consul-generals as well as agreements on education, a sister city relationship between Lao capital Vientiane and Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and a bilateral relationship agreement between the Lao Ministry of Public Security and the Cambodian Ministry of the Interior. Hun Sen's visit came as an invitation by Thongsing Thammavong. It is the first such visit to Laos since Hun Sen was re-elected as prime minister in 2013. The Lao prime minister expressed his appreciation for his Cambodian counterpart's visit and congratulated him on his re- election. Observers have called the visit a landmark one in the increased cooperation and improved relationship between the two nations. During their talks, both sides praised the achievements made by the 12th Meeting of the Lao-Cambodian Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation held in Cambodia in January 2014. The Lao prime minister informed the Cambodian delegation that the country is in the process of economic development and hopes that the growth will help it graduate from UN Least Developed status by 2020. During his stay, Hun Sen also met Lao President Choummaly Sayasone and President of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathortu.