The Kingdom of Cambodia and the United States of America have discussed the priorities of bilateral development cooperation as well as exchange views on related aspects.
The discussion was held yesterday between H.E. Chhieng Yanara, Minster Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary of General of the Cambodia Rehabilitation and Development Board of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CRDB/CDC) and H.E. W. Patrick Murphy, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia.
On the occasion, H.E. Chhieng Yanara warmly welcomed H.E. Ambassador and congratulated Ms. Nancy J. Eslick, the newly Mission Director of USAID, for being appointed by the U.S. government to fulfill her mission in Cambodia. H.E. Minister, on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), highly valued the achievements made by the U.S. government and people in supporting both technical and financial in health, education, agriculture, environment and governance and cross-cutting sector, particularly the grant commitment of US$15 million and 1.06 million doses of COVID-19’s vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) in supporting Cambodia’s COVID-19 responses and socio-economic recovery.
H.E. Ambassador highly praised the RGC for its efforts and achievements in Cambodia’s development especially the well-control of the spread of the COVID-19 and the achievement to provide COVID-19 vaccine to the Cambodia people and foreigners who are currently residing and working in Cambodia. He also introduced the newly Mission Director of USAID Ms. Nancy J. Eslick who begins the mission in Cambodia from now on, and highly valued and praised the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) for excellent coordination and partnership with the U.S. government so far through the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia, USAID Cambodia Office and other agencies of the U.S. Ms. Nancy J. Eslick expressed her pleasure for being appointed to begin the mission in Cambodia and committed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and partnership.
Both sides discussed the priorities of bilateral development cooperation and the New Draft Development Objective Grant Agreement (DOAGs 2021-2025) between the RGC and the U.S. government which is scheduled to conclude the negotiation and is ready to sign during the first quarter of 2022. Under this agreement, the U.S. government plans to provide approximately US$300 million to support health, education, agriculture, and environment sectors for the five-year period.
In addition, both sides also discussed and exchanged viewed on a number of related aspects including the impact of COVID-19, boosting trade and exports between the two countries, environment, agriculture, food security and nutrition, and the Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022.
Before concluding the meeting, both sides expressed their firm commitment to further strengthen and expand cooperation and partnership for sustainable and inclusive development in Cambodia. H.E. Chhieng Yanara expressed his sincere appreciations and wished H.E. W. Patrick Murphy and Ms. Nancy J. Eslick, success in their diplomatic mission in Cambodia.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press