M

INISTER of Public Works and Transport Ing Kieth has expressed keen interest

over a proposal to upgrade the road link between Thailand and Phnom Penh, the

Bangkok Post quoted Mrs Kruawal Samana, secretary to the Thai Minister of

Transport and Communications as saying.

She said the Cambodian minister

paid a courtesy call on Thai Transport and Communications Minister Vinai Sompong

in Bangkok on June 13 .

"The potential for a road link from Aranyaprathet

to Phnom Penh is good," she said, adding that all roads from the Thai border to

the Cambodian capital were still laterite and needed improvement.

Mrs

Kruawal quoted the Cambodian ministers as suggesting that Thailand could help

develop the road link.

After its completion, the linkage would also

provide a gateway to the world, she said.

Speaking briefly with reporters

Kieth said there existed many more areas of cooperation between the two

countries.

He said he was happy to discuss the possibility of building a

road linking Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, and also a railway system

linking Aranyaprathet and Sisophon.

The minister also cited the

possibility of cooperation in fields of energy and the efficient use of the

Mekong River resources.