Phnom Penh (VNA) – The defence andsecurity committees of the parliaments of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV) haveagreed to enhance cooperation to build the shared borders of peace andfriendship.

The consensus was part of the minutes of thefourth meeting of the Commission on Interior, National Defence and CivilService of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA), the Defence and SecurityCommittee of the Lao NA and the Defence and Security Committee of theVietnamese NA, which was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on August 27.

Under the deal, they affirmed their support forthe joint declaration of the 27th Annual Meeting of the Asia-PacificParliamentary Forum in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in January this year. They stressedthat building trust among countries in Asia-Pacific is a basic condition forpeace, security and sustainable development, aside from the necessity offighting terrorism and trans-national crimes in the region and reinforcing cooperationto promote the responsible use of cyber space for social progress.

The committees also voiced their support for thejoint statement of the CLV Summit on Development Triangle Area held on March31, 2018, so as to develop capacity and share information together.

The three neighbouring countries highlighted theimportance of ensuring security and safety and developing a sustainableenvironment in their border areas. They also underlined the need to bolsterconnectivity, competitiveness and economic development in the countries as partof regional and global supply chains.

The three committees welcomed the continuous andactive efforts by the CLV governments in border demarcation and border markerplanting based on the agreements that have taken effect. They also supportedthe early completion of legal documents recognising the border demarcation andborder marker planting progress that the countries have attained.

According to the minutes, the countries willfurther enhance cooperation in parliamentary supervision and integrate theSustainable Development Goals into socio-economic development plans of theirborder provinces. Cooperation among the ministries of interior and nationaldefence of Cambodia, the ministries of public security and national defence ofLaos, and the ministries of public security and national defence of Vietnam, aswell as among administrations in border areas, will be strengthened to activelyresolve issues emerging so as to build border areas of peace, stability andprosperity.

Relevant agencies of the three countries willstep up using emergency hotlines, especially at grassroots levels, to preventand combat terrorism and trans-national crimes. They will work more closely tomonitor the compliance with the principle of non-intervention in one another’sinternal affairs by not allowing any forces to use their respective countries’territories to threaten others’ security. 

They will also work to improve the Cambodian,Lao and Vietnamese peoples’ awareness of the importance of border demarcation,border marker planting, and the fight against illegal migration and humantrafficking in border areas.

Additionally, the three committees will promotegovernment agencies’ cooperation in protecting the environment, sustainably andeffectively managing natural resources, and sharing information, knowledge andexperience in epidemic control and prevention.

They agreed to regularly exchange informationabout cross-border flood, drought, natural disasters and pollution.

The committees will also continue coordinatingclosely with and supporting one another at regional and international forums soas to maintain security, stability and stability in the region.

The fourth meeting in Phnom Penh was chaired byActing President of the Cambodian NA Nguon Nhel. Chairman of the VietnameseNA’s Defence and Security Committee Vo Trong Viet and his Lao counterpartKhamsouk Viinthavong respectively led the Vietnamese and Lao delegations.
 
The next meeting will be hosted by the Laocommittee in 2021.-VNA