BANGKOK (AP) — Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet on Wednesday made his first official visit to neighboring Thailand since becoming his country’s leader last year, seeking to renew the close ties the two countries have maintained in recent times.
In addition to meeting with his Thai counterpart, Srettha Thavisin, Hun Manet presided over the signing of several documents on bilateral cooperation and was scheduled to have a royal audience with King Maha Vajiralongkorn and address a Thailand-Cambodia business forum.
Hun Manet’s scheduled one-day visit “is an important opportunity for both countries to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic development of border areas, promotion of two-way trade and investment, closer transportation connectivity, tourism cooperation as well as fostering closer ties between the peoples of the two kingdoms,” the Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona said ahead of Hun Manet’s visit to Bangkok that it would reaffirm the close relationship for peace, development and cooperation established by his father and predecessor, Hun Sen. Hun Sen stepped down as prime minister last year after 38 years in power, including periods of tensions with Thailand, especially over territorial disputes.
A Thai government summary of the meeting said the two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in the exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Gulf of Thailand, where the two countries have competing maritime territorial claims.
Human rights activists say their cooperation extends to the repression of political dissidents. Several Cambodian opposition figures and other government critics who fled to Thailand to escape arrest under Hun Sen’s government were recently detained in Bangkok in an apparent effort to quash possible protests against Hun Manet.
“(Srettha) reassured Prime Minister Hun Manet that it is Thailand’s policy not to allow anyone to use Thailand as a platform to interfere in the internal affairs, or conduct harmful activities against neighboring countries,” said the Thai statement on their talks.
Hun Manet, speaking briefly in front of the media, thanked Thailand for reaffirming its policy of “not allowing Thai territory to be used for any activities for interference in Cambodian internal politics,” apparently referring to the recent detentions.
Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said that “Hun Manet’s public praise for Thailand’s arrest of Cambodian political activists in exile shows that he really is the new face of transnational repression” in the region.
“By trying to wipe out any sign of dissent both in Cambodia, and among the Khmer diaspora, Hun Manet is trying to surpass his father in dictatorial control and rights abusing actions,” Robertson said in an emailed statement.
“Thailand’s leaders should recognize that being a good neighbor is about people too, and not just promoting trade and investment, and doing natural gas deals,” he added.
Hun Manet and Srettha both assumed office on Aug. 22 last year and quickly set their relations on a positive course with congratulatory phone calls to each other. Srettha paid an official visit to Cambodia last September.
Cambodia and Thailand are neighboring countries with generally warm relations. Thailand’s economy dwarfs that of its neighbor, which is one of Asia’s poorest nations. Cambodia sends substantial numbers of laborers to Thailand to fill low-paying jobs, especially in the construction sector.
Srettha told Hun Manet that “Thailand attaches high importance to making sure that Cambodian workers in Thailand receive fair treatment and a proper economic safety net,” according to the Thai summary of the talks.
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