Bangkok/Phnom Penh, April 25, 2025 – In a historic step to strengthen regional environmental cooperation, Thailand’s Minister of National Resources and Environment and Cambodia’s Minister of Environment signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transboundary Environmental Pollution today. The signing took place during the official visit of Thailand’s Prime Minister to Cambodia, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Under the terms of the five-year agreement, both countries will collaborate to tackle cross-border environmental challenges, including:

• Transboundary air and water pollution

• Solid waste management

• Hazardous waste reduction

Key provisions of the MoU include:

1. Exchange of Information: Sharing real-time data on pollution levels and sources to enable coordinated responses.

2. Capacity Building & Research: Joint training programs and scientific studies to develop innovative pollution-control technologies.

3. Rapid Response Mechanisms: Establishing alert systems and task forces to mitigate environmental and public health impacts swiftly.

4. Technical Collaboration: Pooling resources and expertise to implement best practices in waste treatment and remediation.

Both ministers underscored the importance of protecting their populations’ health and preserving shared ecosystems such as the Mekong River Basin. “This MoU represents our mutual commitment to cleaner air, purer water, and safer communities,” said Thailand’s Minister of National Resources and Environment. Cambodia’s Minister of Environment added, “By working together, we can effectively address the environmental issues that know no borders.”

Effective immediately upon signing, the MoU is expected to foster successful solutions to a wide range of environmental problems and serve as a model for future Southeast Asian cooperation.