Thailand pushes talks with Cambodia over transboundary pollution

The Thai government is accelerating efforts to hold talks with its Cambodian counterpart to address transboundary air pollution, which is posing an increasing threat to the health of people in Thailand, as the dry season, is expected to be dryer and longer this year due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, gets underway.

At the instruction of Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkaphong Sangmanee, Chatchai Viriyavejakul, director-general of the East Asia Department has already called the Cambodian ambassador to Thailand  Hun Saroeun to express Thailand’s concern over the pollution coming  from Cambodia, according to informed sources in the Thai Foreign Ministry.

The Cambodian envoy has promised to convey Thailand’s concerns to Phnom Penh today, said the sources, adding that Jakkaphong will call Eang Sophalleth, Cambodia’s environment minister, tomorrow to discuss the problem. The Thai…