Vice Commander of the Vietnam Border Guards Force Nguyen Hoai Phuong and Secretary of State at the Cambodian Interior Ministry Sok Phal on March 13 discussed the upgrading of Khanh Binh border gate in the southern province of An Giang and Chrey Thom border gate in the Cambodian province of Kandal into international ones.

At Chrey Thom border gate (Source: tuoitre.vn)

Lying in strategically important positions, Khanh Binh – Chrey Thom border gates are gateways for trade, economic development and cultural exchange between the two nations. 

Last year, they welcomed nearly 110,000 visitors, including nearly 71,000 coming from roads and waterway. About 38,000 vehicles passed through the border gates while over 1,100 tonnes of goods, mostly fruits, were imported to Vietnam and more than 2.4 tonnes of construction materials, fertilisers and miscellaneous goods sold to Cambodia. 

At the talks, Phuong said An Giang has devised a comprehensive planning on the upgrade of Khanh Binh border gate into international one on both road and waterway, and completed procedures to collect opinions from ministries and agencies to submit to the Government for consideration. 

Sok Phal said the activity is part of Vietnam and Cambodia’s plan to build a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. 

He said Cambodian agencies concerned plan to build infrastructure around Chrey Thom border gate to meet its demand in the future. 

Earlier on April 24, 2017, Long Binh – Chrey Thom border bridge connecting An Giang and Kandal provinces were inaugurated and put into use. 

The bridge spanning Binh Di river links Khanh Binh and Chrey Thom border gates. 

An Giang is now home to Tinh Bien and Vinh Xuong international border gates in Tinh Bien district and Tan Chau township, respectively, along with Khanh Binh and Vinh Hoi Dong national border gates in An Phu district, and other auxiliary border gates.-VNA