Cambodia has re-opened its borders with Vietnam after banning cross-border movement more than three months ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Foreign Affairs Ministry secretary of state Ouch Borith said Vietnam had already been informed of the June 19 decision.
However, it is unclear whether Vietnam will reciprocate with a similar move.
Related: Experts say we are still in the 1st wave of virus cases
Borith said Vietnamese nationals entering Cambodia must adhere to the health measures implemented by the country.
“For Vietnamese nationals, especially technicians, investors, and students, they may get other visas except for a tourist visa,” he said.
The Khmer Times reports General Keo Vanthorn, deputy director at the Ministry of Interior’s Immigration Department, confirming the opening of the border, saying it would boost economic, investments and trade between the two countries, and allow businessmen to travel.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh said this easing of restriction would allow students to return to their universities in Vietnam and Cambodia.
“Our countries have managed the epidemic well so far, with no deaths and more than two months of no community transmissions. We both can be proud and think about measures to mutually ease travel restrictions between us.”
Centre for Policy Studies director Chan Sophal also expressed support for the lifting of border restrictions although concerns linger over a new wave of infections.
He said now was a “suitable time” to allow travel between the two nations.
He encouraged the reopening of borders shared with Thailand and Laos so economic activities with the countries could resume.
“However, the reopening of the borders must come with a mechanism to control the risk of virus transmission. It does not mean that we will allow them to enter our country freely.”
In related news, Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey provincial governor met officials from Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province to discuss the reopening of the Poipet- Khlong Luk international checkpoint, the most important border point shared by the two nations.
The meeting comes after traders requested the re-opening as up to 12,000 Cambodian vendors with stalls in Sa Kaeo were suffering since its closure.
The Phnom Penh Post said Asean countries were discussing possible measures to rejuvenate tourism throughout the region.
Last Friday, Asean nations convened via videoconferencing for the Conference of Federation of Asean Travel Associations to discuss the reopening of borders.
According to a Tourism ministry Facebook post, the discussion touched on policies to promote domestic tourism between Asean countries.
Its director-general of Tourism Development and International Cooperation, Thong Rathsak, said each country presented policies and measures, but a timeframe for border openings was unclear.
“All the Asean countries prepared a plan for advancing travel in the region, but for the opening of borders and airspace, no country has set specific dates yet.”
Rathsak said 1.16 million international tourists arrived in Cambodia from January to March, a 38 per cent decrease from the same period last year.
Reporting by NST