Day: September 23, 2022

Cambodia and Argentine have expressed their intention for stronger relations of friendship, greater economic exchanges and cooperation.
H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, and H.E. Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic showed the common desire of both countries in their bilateral meeting in New York on Sept. 20, according to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation AKP received last evening.
In the meeting, the two Ministers briefed each other on the economic and social development in Cambodia and Argentina, including on addressing COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts.
H.E. Prak Sokhonn welcomed the strong interest of Argentina, as expressed by H.E. Santiago Cafiero, to enhance cooperation with Cambodia and ASEAN region in many potential areas, including health, food security, agriculture and fishery, energy and mineral extraction, promotion of trade and investment.
Bothe Ministers also agreed to work together to explore the possibility of advancing cooperation between ASEAN and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in these areas.
Concurring on the need to establish a mechanism to jump-start the realisation of their shared desire for stronger relations of friendship, greater economic exchanges and cooperation in all feasible areas between Cambodia and Argentina, H.E. Prak Sokhonn and H.E. Santiago Cafiero signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries.
The two Ministers also exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and its impact on global food and energy security and the crisis in Myanmar. H.E. Deputy Prime Minister briefed his Argentine counterpart on Cambodia’s efforts, as the Chair of ASEAN, in assisting Myanmar’s return to normalcy through the implementation of the ASEAN Five-point consensus and the challenges that Cambodia faces in this regard.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and President of Maldives H.E. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will exchange their visits next year, a move to further foster the two countries’ friendship.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen would be pleased to receive the state visit of the President of Maldives early next year on a mutually convenient date, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Prak Sokhonn told his Maldives counterpart H.E. Abdulla Shahid in their meeting in New York on Sept. 20, according to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation AKP received last evening.
Both Ministers agreed that this visit to Cambodia and the return visit of Samdech Techo Hun Sen to Maldives will further strengthen the relations of friendship and lead to the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations.
To further enhance Cambodia-Maldives ties, both Ministers agreed to consider concluding a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultation Cambodia and the Maldives. They commit to explore the possibility of cooperation in tourism, establishment of a direct flight between the Maldives and Cambodia, investment on rice milling for export including to the Maldives and other feasible areas.
They also discussed on formalising a visa facility arrangement, with a view to promote people-to-people exchange and businesses between the two countries.
H.E. Prak Sokhonn and H.E. Abdulla Shahid expressed commitment to promote international cooperation between Cambodia and the Maldives, including support for each other’s candidacy in regional and international organisations.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation chaired the annual Informal ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Meeting (IAMM), held in New York City, U.S.A.
on Sept. 22, on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Meeting exchanged views on the candidatures of ASEAN Member States to the United Nations bodies and International Organisations, and agreed that continued promotion of ASEAN candidature would further raise ASEAN international profile and relevance, read the ministry’s press release.
Taking this opportunity, Cambodia sought the support of fellow ASEAN Member States for Cambodia’s membership in the Organisational Committee of the Peace building Commission (OCPBC) for the term 2025-2026 and in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the term 2028-2030.
On ASEAN external relations, the Meeting welcomed the recent accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which now has 49 parties, after six more countries signed on to it in August this year and agreed to accept the accession of Spain and Ukraine.
With regard to the preparation of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Phnom Penh, on Nov. 10-13, 2022, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister briefed the Meeting on the preparation and the tentative programme, and expressed high appreciation for the full support of all ASEAN Member States to ensure substantive outcomes of the Summits, as well as the 2nd ASEAN Global Dialogue on Post-Covid-19 Comprehensive Recovery, which is a major side event.
Apart from ASEAN Community building efforts, the Meeting also exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar and the follow-up on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) agreed at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on April 24, 2021.
H.E. Deputy Prime Minister, along with other ASEAN Foreign Ministers, reiterated the importance of accelerating progress on the implementation of the 5PC, at this critical juncture of heightened geopolitical tension.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia H.E. H.E. Prak Sokhonn had separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Gambia and Brazil to exchange views on promoting bilateral relations, in New York City, U.S.A. on Sept. 22, on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
According to the ministry’s press release AKP received this morning, in their meeting, H.E. Prak Sokhonn and H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of the Gambia agreed to conduct a bilateral consultation, as soon as possible, with a view to encourage trade, investment and cooperation in all feasible areas, including agriculture, between Cambodia and Gambia.
The two sides concurred to conclude in the near future an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders of two countries, which will facilitate official exchanges, including between the legislative bodies.
The two Ministers shared the view that both sides should consider establishing an honorary consulate in each other’s capital to promote relations and business linkages.
They also committed to promote Cambodia-Gambia international cooperation, and to support for each other’s candidacy in regional and international organisations.
During the meeting with H.E. Carlos Alberto Franco França, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, H.E Prak Sokhonn congratulated Brazil’s recently acquired status of ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner and agreed with his Brazilian counterpart that there are many potential areas for ASEAN-Brazil and Cambodia-Brazil cooperation.
Both Ministers expressed great optimism that the 1st consultation between the Foreign Ministries of Cambodia and Brazil to be conducted in December this year will lead to the expansion of trade and investment and cooperation in many areas between the two countries.
During this meeting, H.E. Carlos Alberto Franco França expressed intention to open the Embassy of Brazil in Cambodia in the near future. He also welcomed Cambodia’s desire to open a resident Embassy in Brasilia, in the near future.
Furthermore, the two Ministers agreed to strengthen Cambodia-Brazil international Cooperation and pledged to enhance support for each other within the international frameworks.
On the same day, H.E. Prak Sokhonn also met with H.E. Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). They discussed further promotion of cooperation between Cambodia and the OIF especially in encouraging trade and investment exchanges within OIF region.
They agreed that there are many potential areas which OIF members can cooperate for mutual benefits, such as agriculture and renewable energy.
H.E. Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo recalled with great satisfaction her successful visit to Cambodia in March this year.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

Australia welcomes the appeal judgment handed down by the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (ECCC) that upheld the guilty verdict of former Khmer Rouge senior leader Khieu for crimes against humanity, according to a statement shared by the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh.
The ECCC has played an important role in holding former Khmer Rouge leaders to account for their crimes, as well as promoting national reconciliation and including Khmer Rouge victims as parties to the legal process, it said.
“Australia is proud to have contributed over AUD 44 million to the Court since 2004, making us the third largest donor,” read the statement.
“This support reinforces our longstanding commitment to the peace process and democratic institutions in Cambodia, along with our commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights both in Cambodia and across the globe,” it concluded.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press