Neighbouring Cambodia and Thailand have vowed to boost their economic growth through infrastructure, trade, investment and tourism connectivity. The commitment was made by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and visiting H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, President of the Pheu Thai Party, during their bilateral talks at the 7th January Palace in Phnom Penh this afternoon, according to a press release of CPP issued tonight. Samdech Techo Hun Sen shared with his guest Cambodia's economic situation after the collapse of the Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge regime), peace seeking, transformation of the former battlefields into development zones and the border area into a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. H.E. Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been on a two-day (Mar. 18-19) visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Samdech Techo Hun Sen. This is part of the high-level visit exchange between the two ruling parties based on their friendship and close cooperation. 'The visit is also a contribution to promoting the cooperation of neighbouring countries, and the 'strategic partnership' announced during the official visit of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Kingdom of Thailand in February 2024,' said the press release. Besides Samdech Techo Hun Sen, H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra paid separate courtesy calls on Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, President of the Senate, and H.E. Kitti Setha Pundit Cheam Yeap, First Vice President of the National Assembly, and exchanged views with many CPP's young leaders who are members of the Royal Government and Parliament, including H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many, Member of the CPP's Standing Committee and Minister of Civil Service. The high-level delegation of Pheu Thai Party is scheduled to visit tomorrow the Choeung Ek Extermination Centre and the Win-Win Memorial in Phnom Penh to learn more about Cambodia's recent history, especially the Win-Win Policy that has brought peace, stability and development to Cambodia. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse SEOUL, South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik on Monday reaffirmed that the current size of U.S. troops stationed in the country is "absolutely necessary" after a former top Pentagon official questioned the need for such a presence. Christopher Miller, who served as the acting secretary of defense under the former Donald Trump administration, said in a recent local media interview that it was time to discuss whether South Korea still needs 28,500 American troops or if change was needed. "Every year at the Security Consultative Meeting, (we) announce that it is an absolutely necessary figure," Shin said at a news conference when asked about Miller's comments, referring to the annual meeting between the two countries' defense chiefs. Shin said the current size of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is outlined annually in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, which specifies the Pentagon's budget, and that South Korea shares this view. Miller's comments came amid concerns of a possible shift in Washin gton's security policies regarding South Korea if Trump is reelected to office in the November presidential election. On the upcoming South Korea-U.S. talks on the cost-sharing for the upkeep of U.S. troops stationed here, Shin said he would make efforts to inform Americans on the role South Korea plays in global defense. "South Korea (bought about) US$10 billion worth of American weapons in the past five years," he said. "More importantly, South Korea bears the largest security burden along with the United States to maintain peace and security in the world than any other country." Earlier this month, Seoul and Washington named their new chief negotiators for the cost-sharing talks, after local media reported they would launch the talks earlier than planned in a move that appeared to consider Trump's possible reelection. During Trump's presidency, the negotiation was a major bone of contention as he demanded a hefty rise in South Korea's share of the cost for the USFK. On recently deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, Shin said the North is estimated to have shipped about 7,000 containers of arms and military equipment to Russia since around last July. The two countries have bolstered relations after the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit at a Russian spaceport in September. When asked whether Seoul plans to send weapons to support Ukraine, Shin reiterated the government's stance on not providing lethal arms support. "(We) have never directly provided lethal weapons, equipment or supplies to Ukraine," he said. "As the United States partially lacked shell reserves, we made exports to them ... Unless our government's stance changes, this policy remains in effect." Seoul has maintained a stance to provide humanitarian and non-lethal defense assistance to Ukraine, such as protective suits, demining equipment and other military supplies. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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