The leaders of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors, aiming to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration within the Mekong subregion.
Prime Minister Hun Manet, on Monday morning, hosted a working breakfast with his counterparts, Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam, and Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Laos, on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 26 to 28.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone extended their congratulations to Cambodia on the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement between Cambodia and Thailand, witnessed by US President Donald J. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The two leaders praised the achievement as a significant diplomatic step for regional stability and cooperation.
The three premiers discussed the progress and priorities of trilateral collaboration, highlighting key areas such as trade, investment, tourism, security, and national defence.
They underscored the need to enhance connectivity in physical and digital infrastructure—particularly in transport networks, energy exchange, and digital payment systems—to drive economic growth and facilitate cross-border activities.
Prime Minister Hun Manet urged relevant authorities from Cambodia and Laos to accelerate the selection of sites for the construction of the Ropov–Selamphao River Bridge, a project expected to improve transport and trade links between the two neighbours.
In discussions with Vietnam, the Cambodian leader also called for swift progress in identifying sites for the Phnom Penh–Bavet Expressway and the Ho Chi Minh–Moc Bai Expressway, which are intended to boost trade, logistics, and tourism between the two nations.
Tourism cooperation was another focal point of the trilateral dialogue. The leaders agreed to instruct their respective tourism ministers to continue discussions aimed at promoting the “Three Countries, One Destination” initiative.
The approach seeks to attract more international visitors to the Mekong region by marketing Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam as an integrated travel experience.
Prime Minister Hun Manet highlighted the vital role of the private sector in advancing tourism and cross-border collaboration, stressing that stronger engagement between governments and businesses would be essential for sustaining regional competitiveness.
Before concluding, the Cambodian leader expressed appreciation to Vietnam and Laos for their continued support and participation in the Interim Observer Team (IOT) mechanism.
He voiced hope that both countries would maintain their engagement under the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) framework moving forward.
The meeting underscored the shared vision of the three neighbouring countries to deepen their cooperation and collective contribution to ASEAN’s regional stability, prosperity, and integration.
