Bangkok, Phnom Penh revive sisters' cities status

BANGKOK, May 14 (TNA) - Before the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) over the next three years, the capitals of Thailand and Cambodia will have an agreement to promote their sisters' cities status to further support bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia. Communities, temples and buildings along the Mekong River in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, look similar to views along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, reflecting that people in both capitals are bonded with rivers, and markets where Thai products are available in Cambodia have now accepted the Thai baht, apart from the Cambodian riel. Bangkok and Phnom Penh postponed the signing of their sisters' cities relationship agreement four years ago due to border issues. The signing is now expected within this year and good relations between both capitals should further boost bilateral development. The planned signing follows a recent visit to Phnom Penh by Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, as the prime minister of Cambodia and the Phnom Penh governor have also supported the signing, which will facilitate exchange of knowledge on traffic, residential, environmental and flood management. Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh Sompong Sa-nguanban acknowledged that Cambodia has trade, investment and tourism potential and more Thai business operators are investing in Cambodia, where labour costs are cheaper and a variety of promotional privileges and incentives are offered to attract international investors. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has so far signed sisters' cities relationship agreements between the Thai capital and seven cities comprising Guangzhou, Chongqing and Tianjin in China, Lausanne in Switzerland, Pusan in South Korea, Ankara in Turkey and George Town in Malaysia. Phnom Penh will be the eighth. (TNA)