AKP Phnom Penh, June 03, 2026 --

Cambodia and Laos are moving to significantly expand bilateral public health ties, focusing on opportunities to strengthen medical services and outbreak response initiatives between the border provinces of the two nations.

Cambodian Health Minister H.E. Professor Chheang Ra met here on June 2 with H.E. Sonexay Vannaxay, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

On that occasion, the Minister welcomed and congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment, while highlighting the traditional friendship, good neighbourliness, and long-term strategic partnership between Cambodia and Laos.

The Minister reaffirmed the readiness of the Cambodian Ministry of Health to continue working with the Embassy and the Lao Ministry of Health to accelerate the drafting of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two ministries.

The upcoming agreement will focus on preventing and controlling infectious diseases, particularly malaria, in border provinces.

It also aims to ensure timely responses to public health emergencies especially at international border gates and strengthen joint capacity in implementing International Health Regulations through training, assessments, and the exchange of practical health data.

Both sides agreed to promote direct knowledge sharing between provincial health departments along the border.

This will be achieved through regular communication, joint field simulation exercises, and the sharing of case experiences regarding cross-border infectious diseases to enhance joint preparedness.

The Ministry of Health also welcomed an initiative to organise a joint pharmaceutical and medical equipment exhibition to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Cambodia-Laos Diplomatic Relations, and reaffirmed its commitment to mutual support within the frameworks of ASEAN, Mekong-Lancang, and Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) cooperation.

By Phal Sophanith