Newly appointed prime ministers Srettha (Thailand) and Hun Manet (Cambodia) have vowed to work together and strengthen bilateral relationships, according to the Khmer Times.
Hun Manet called Srettha on Tuesday evening. During the call, the two leaders congratulated each other for being elected prime minister on the same day.
Hun Manet said “Both governments are committed to strengthening friendship and cooperation, especially between our two peoples.”
Posting on X (Twitter), outgoing prime minister and president of Cambodia’s Privy Council Hun Sen said on Tuesday that it was a “beautiful day, as two neighbouring countries with constitutional monarchies welcomed new prime ministers together”, according to the Khmer Times.
“Although I stepped down as prime minister of Cambodia onTuesday, I would like to send a congratulatory message to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin,” he added.
“I hope the two new prime ministers will work together to boost cooperation further between the two countries,” Hun Sen said.
Srettha, 61, from the Pheu Thai Party, was elected prime minister of Thailand after receiving parliamentary support in a vote on Tuesday. Hun Manet was endorsed by the Cambodian National Assembly earlier on the same day.
Srettha has long been a confidant of both Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra, both former Thai prime ministers and key Pheu Thai party figures.
The Khmer Times said Hun Sen and Thaksin are often referred to as “brothers” and there is a close relationship between their families.
Last month, Thaksin and Yingluck attended a birthday celebration at Hun Sen’s residence.
The Khmer Times quoted Kin Phea, the director-general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, as saying that the Cambodian-Thai relationship will get a boost through their two new prime ministers.
