The Cambodian Ministry of Interior and the Lao Ministry of Public Security have been encouraged to continue strengthening and expanding their close cooperation in the fight against cross-border crime, human trafficking, drug trafficking and so on.

Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, made the encouragement while receiving a courtesy call from visiting H.E. Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, at the Peace Palace here this afternoon.

Besides, Samdech Thipadei spoke highly of the good relations between the two neighbouring countries, particularly between the Cambodian Ministry of Interior and the Lao Ministry of Public Security. He also noted the Lao government’s commitment to supply electricity to Cambodia to respond to the Kingdom’s energy needs.

The Premier expressed Cambodia’s readiness to support Laos as the host of ASEAN Summit this year.

For his part, H.E. Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong told Samd
ech Thipadei of his visit, the purpose of which is to participate in the annual meeting between the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia and the Ministry of Public Security of Laos to further tighthen their cooperation in key areas such as the fight against transnational crimes, human trafficking, drug trafficking, etc.

The two ministries will further foster their cooperation through exchanging visits, sharing experience and technical skills, exchanging students studying police skills, and continuing cooperation in resolving border issues peacefully to facilitate the movement of people of the two countries and to maintain the common border as the border of peace and development.

Earlier on the same day, H.E. Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong also paid separate courtesy visits to Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, former Prime Minister of Cambodia and current President of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King, and Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and cu
rrent Member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

MANILA: The national government posted a budget surplus of PHP88 billion in January this year, up by more than 90 percent from a year ago’s PHP45.7 billion.

“The fiscal outturn was brought about by a faster 21.15% year-over-year increase in revenue collection outpacing the 10.39% expansion in government spending,” the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said in a report on Friday.

Total revenues during the month rose to PHP421.8 billion from PHP348.2 billion last year, driven by higher tax collections which comprised 91.31 percent or PHP385.2 billion of the total collection.

The remaining 8.69 percent or PHP36.6 billion was generated through non-tax sources.

The national government’s disbursements, meanwhile, amounted to PHP333.99 billion, higher by 10.39 percent than last year’s spending of PHP302.4 billion.

Primary expenditures, which accounted for 77.77 percent of the total, inched up to PHP259.6 billion from P255.4 billion posted a year ago.

Meanwhile, interest payments, which accounted for the remaining 2
2.23 percent, rose to PHP74.2 billion.

Source: Philippines News Agency