Cambodia, Thailand vow to enhance peace along border

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh (R) meets with his Thai counterpart Prawit Wongsuwan (L) in Phnom Penh Dec 24, 2014. Prawit arrived here on Wednesday for a two-day visit. [Photo/Xinhua]

PHNOM PENH - Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and his visiting Thai counterpart Prawit Wongsuwan on Wednesday pledged to enhance security and maintain peace along the border of the two countries.

"We agreed to increase cooperation in security and peace along the border," Tea Banh told a joint press conference after the 10th meeting of Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee.

He said the two neighbors will intensify cooperation in prevention and suppression on human and drug trafficking, labor exploitation, illegal logging and all kinds of trans-border crimes.

"We also agreed to enhance cooperation in fighting against terrorism and cracking down on weapon smuggling," he added.

The two ministers also pledged to improve the livelihoods of the peoples along the border through facilitating daily trade activities and pushing for the establishment of special economic zones in border provinces.

Prawit arrived in Cambodia on Wednesday morning for a two-day trip. He is scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday.