PHNOM PENH: The President of Cambodia’s National Assembly will be making her first trip abroad at the end of November, having already met with dignitaries since taking office in late August. On November 30, Khuon Sodary will head to neighboring countries Vietnam and Laos to strengthen cooperation between the countries.

National Assembly President Khuon Sodary met with Vietnam’s Ambassador to Cambodia, Nguyen Huy Tang, on November 3 at the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh.

Following the meeting, Chief of Cabinet of the President of the National Assembly, Mr. Keo Piseth, told the media that Khuon Sodary will visit Vietnam on November 30 and continue to Laos, as well as attend the General Assembly between the leaders of the National Assemblies of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV) with a focus on the trilateral development between the Southeast Asian countries.

"The meeting is meant to strengthen cooperation and to promote development in the three regions while using the full potential to facilitate cross-border trade between the countries, making it easier to trade in that area. Nowadays there are some obstacles related to trade, labor and tourism flow,” he said.

The Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos Development Triangle was established in 1999 as an initiative between the former Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The agreement promotes economic development, shared infrastructure, environmental protection, human resources and use of natural resources from the 13 provinces that share transnational borders in the countries.