PRIME Minister General Thein Sein left on November 30 for Phnom Penh on a three-day visit aimed at promoting bilateral relations between Myanmar and Cambodia.

Gen Thein Sein’s first visit to Cambodia in his capacity as prime minister came at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart, Mr Hun Sen, who had made a goodwill visit to Myanmar in May.

Apart from holding talks with Mr Hun Sen, Gen Thein Sein was scheduled to meet with the head of the Cambodian senate, Mr Chea Sim, and parliament head Mr Heng Samrin, according to a statement issued by the Cambodian foreign ministry on November 27.

The visit by Gen Thein Sein is a part of a tour of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in line with the grouping’s tradition for prime ministers from member states to visit other members soon after assuming the post.

Gen Thein Sein, who was appointed prime minister on October 24, visited Vietnam and Laos in mid-November.

Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are the four newest members of ASEAN, whose other members are Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei.