Bangkok: “Phumtham” has revealed that both Thailand and Cambodia are continuing their efforts to crack down on call centers as a result of the recent General Border Committee (GBC) meeting between the two nations. The meeting aimed to enhance cooperation between the countries and within ASEAN to build bargaining power amidst global trade tension.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Thailand, alongside General Tea Sayha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Cambodia, co-chaired the 17th meeting of the GBC Thailand-Cambodia. The meeting took place in Thailand and included both countries’ delegations.

Following the meeting, Mr. Phumtham announced that the two countries have agreed to collaborate in suppressing call center operations by establishing a coordination center. This effort will involve the Office of the Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police coordinating with both the Thai police and the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia. This cooperation aims to effectively disrupt illegal call center activities, and it is expected to continue into the future. Furthermore, the meeting addressed several other border-related issues, such as cross-border haze and disaster cooperation, with the intention of mutually benefiting both nations.

Mr. Phumtham also mentioned discussions on the ASEAN cooperation framework concerning U.S. tariffs. Although no concrete agreements were reached on specific principles, there was dialogue about ASEAN’s collective approach to tackle emerging challenges, such as trade wars and geopolitical threats from superpowers. This unified approach is seen as essential for creating regional bargaining power and reaping benefits due to their shared cultural backgrounds.