Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will arrive in Bangkok on Thursday for a two-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties and forge new areas of cooperation.

It will be his first official to Thailand since taking over the foreign affairs portfolio in 2016.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Prak Sokhonn will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. He will be here at the invitation of his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai.

Sokhonn and Don will hold bilateral meetings to deliberate a wide range of issues.

“The traditional friendship, good neighbourliness and close all-round cooperation between the two kingdoms have been constantly deepened and expanded, reaching the level of ‘Partners in Peace and Prosperity’,” said a statement from the ministry.

Informed sources told Thai PBS World that top the bilateral agenda will include issues related to a joint campaign against cross-border criminal gangs, especially those operating scam call centers which have victimised thousands of people in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, among others.

Last week, Thai ambassador to Cambodia, Cherdkiat Atthakorn, held talks with Prak Sokhonn to prepare the latter’s visit to Bangkok. They discussed bilateral partnerships in areas such as trade and investment, education, demining, infrastructure and connectivity, including border crossings.

Both sides agreed that more joint effort is needed to achieve the trade target of US$15 billion by 2025 and demining operations along their common border.