KPL
Laos and Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries while advancing regional trade through the launch of a new transport route for Cambodian agricultural exports to China via the Lao PDR.
The commitment was made during a bilateral meeting held in Vientiane between Lao Minister of Agriculture and Environment Linkham Douangsavanh and Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina.
The ministers discussed measures to deepen cooperation between their respective ministries, facilitate business-to-business exchanges, promote investment and agricultural trade, and strengthen regional supply chains. A key outcome of the meeting was the official launch of the transportation of Cambodian agricultural products through Laos to the Chinese market, while also supporting exports from Laos to Cambodia.
Minister Linkham said the meeting marked another important step in strengthening the friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two neighboring countries, particularly in agriculture and forestry. He noted that ongoing collaboration is expected to improve efficiency, attract investment, and generate mutual economic benefits.
The two sides reviewed progress under the 2023–2027 Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation, which covers priority areas including agricultural cooperatives, commercial rice production, private sector investment, agricultural trade facilitation, fisheries development, forest conservation, and the protection of aquatic species such as the Mekong giant catfish.
Recent cooperation has also supported export-oriented agricultural production. Under current arrangements, Laos is preparing to export six products to Cambodia—coffee, cabbage, tamarind, sticky rice, blueberries, and pumpkin—while Cambodia is preparing to transport durian, bananas, rice, mangoes, longan, and potatoes through Laos for export to China.
The meeting also highlighted the launch of agricultural cargo shipments through the Thanaleng Dry Port as a milestone in regional logistics cooperation and cross-border trade connectivity.
In addition, both countries agreed to continue coordination on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the forestry sector, strengthening wildlife conservation, implementing obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and advancing other areas of mutual interest under the bilateral cooperation framework.
