On Jul 18 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith representing the government of the Lao PDR presented a friendship medal to outgoing Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Lao PDR Thong Sokuntheary.
The diplomat has been serving her diplomatic task in Laos for three years.
The award recognizes and commends the Cambodian ambassador’s effective contribution to strengthening the relations and cooperation between Laos and its neighbour.
On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister highly valued the achievements the Cambodian ambassador has made since late 2020 in strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two Parties, states and peoples of Laos and Cambodia as well as the comprehensive and long-lasting strategic partnership between the two countries.
He said that the Cambodian ambassador has actively supported the participation in meetings and regular exchanges of high-ranking officials of the Party and government of the two countries, the cooperation between relevant ministries of the two nations, and the signing of key agreements, especially on energy, culture and tourism, education, finance and banking.
Currently, the cooperation on trade, investment, and tourism between the two countries is improving with Cambodian investment in the Lao PDR reaching 127 million US dollars.
The largest investment projects with Cambodian investment include a Dan Savan tourism development and Casino complex project with a total capital of 110 million US dollars.
Last year, the two-way trade between the two countries reached 106 million US dollars including 100 million US dollars of electricity purchase.
The ambassador actively contributed to the successful signing of the Laos-Cambodia action plan on bilateral cooperation 2023-2027 and the Laos-Cambodia treaty on border demarcation.
Ambassador Thong Sokuntheary also played an important role in mobilizing humanitarian assistance and support from Cambodia for anti-Covid-19 efforts in the Lao PDR, including the provision of Sinovac vaccines, and other medical supplies.
The vice premier also expressed gratitude to the government and people of Cambodia for their assistance and support to the Lao PDR in various areas in the past years which has contributed significantly to the socio-economic development in the Lao PDR.
In reply, the ambassador expressed sincere thanks to the Party, government, and people of the Lao PDR as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their cooperation, support and assistance in fulfilling her diplomatic task in the Lao PDR, and her pride at being awarded the meaningful Friendship Medal from the government of the Lao PDR.
The ambassador noted that such an award symbolizes the meaningful promotion of the relations and cooperation between Laos and Cambodia.
She also assured the host leader that although she will return to home country and assume new task there, she will continue to promote the relations and cooperation between the two countries to bring optimal benefits to peoples of Laos and Cambodia.
Source: Lao News Agency