Cambodia, Laos Agree to Strengthen and Expand Security Cooperation

Cambodia, Laos Agree to Strengthen and Expand Security Cooperation

On the morning of 14 May 2026, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, received a courtesy call from His Excellency Lieutenant General Vanthong KONGMANY, Minister of Public Security of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and his delegation at the Peace Palace.

During the meeting, His Excellency the Minister expressed satisfaction with and high appreciation for the progress of relations and cooperation between the two countries. He emphasised that Laos and Cambodia are close neighbours sharing similar traditions and customs, with longstanding ties between their peoples. His Excellency the Minister informed Samdech Thipadei that his current visit to Cambodia was aimed at participating in a meeting to review and evaluate the implementation of the 2025 Cooperation Minutes and to sign the 2026 Cooperation Minutes with the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, which was concluded successfully and fruitfully. His Excellency the Minister further noted that the visit would contribute to strengthening cooperation in security and public order, particularly along the border provinces, in combating transnational crime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and cybercrime, with the aim of ensuring safety, stability, and public order for the peoples of both countries. He also affirmed his commitment to further enhancing security cooperation between the two sides.

In response, Samdech Thipadei congratulated His Excellency Vanthong KONGMANY on his appointment as Minister of Public Security of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and expressed his firm confidence that security cooperation between the two countries would continue to be further strengthened under his leadership. Samdech Thipadei highly valued the excellent bilateral relations and cooperation across all sectors, particularly as the two countries commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He added that the two countries also share various other areas of cooperation that require continued joint efforts, such as infrastructure connectivity and people-to-people ties, which serve as important driving forces for expanding bilateral trade and promoting the tourism sectors of both countries. Samdech Thipadei also expressed his appreciation and high regard for the fruitful outcomes of the meeting between the Cambodian Ministry of Interior and the Lao Ministry of Public Security, as well as for the excellent security cooperation between the two ministries over the years. He further stressed that combating transnational crime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and cybercrime is an essential task that requires close and collective cooperation between the two countries.

In conclusion, Samdech Thipadei encouraged the Cambodian Ministry of Interior and the Lao Ministry of Public Security to continue strengthening and expanding their cooperation in order to further deepen and enhance cooperation in the security sector, which plays an important role in strengthening connectivity across other sectors between the two countries.

SP-STPM Unofficial Translation