In a significant move towards fortifying peace and prosperity, Cambodia and Japan have jointly pledged to enhance their bilateral and multilateral engagements. This commitment was highlighted during a notable meeting on Saturday morning (Jul. 6) at the Peace Palace, where Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet warmly received Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko.
The discussions revealed a deep-seated mutual trust between the two nations, rooted in Japan’s pivotal role in Cambodia’s peace process and its considerable contributions towards the nation’s developmental endeavors. Kamikawa Yoko outlined Japan’s agenda to not only continue but also broaden the scope of its cooperation with the Royal Government of Cambodia, keeping within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
Expressing his appreciation, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet acknowledged Japan’s instrumental support in advancing Cambodia’s socio-economic landscape. He reflected on the exemplary state of affairs between the two countries, especially acknowledging the elevation of their ties to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” in 2023. This upgrade has paved the way for launching novel initiatives aimed at deepening and diversifying their collaborative ventures.
Key areas identified for this enhanced cooperation include:
- Developing social infrastructure with a focus on clean water and wastewater treatment systems, digital development, and cybersecurity enhancements.
- Improving maritime connectivity, particularly through efforts to transform the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port into a regional logistics hub, and bolstering maritime security through collaborative ventures between the navies and coast guards of both nations. This initiative also encompasses human resource training and conducting joint naval exercises.
- Advancing demining operations, with Japan expressing its support for Cambodia’s role in hosting the Ottawa Convention meeting in November 2024.
Prime Minister Hun Manet assured Cambodia’s full cooperation in successfully hosting the Ottawa Convention meeting and extended gratitude towards Japan for its continued assistance in demining efforts.
Furthermore, discussions extended into amplifying economic relations to attract further Japanese investments, alongside commending the recent upliftment of dialogues between defense and foreign affairs sectors to include deputy ministers from both nations.
Both leaders also weighed in on the significance of adhering to bilateral and multilateral platforms to foster regional and international peace, stability, unity, and prosperity, ensuring that these endeavors would beneficially impact the citizenries of both Cambodia and Japan.
This enhanced cooperative stance between Cambodia and Japan marks a crucial phase in their relationship, promising not only to augment their bilateral ties but also to contribute significantly to regional stability and prosperity.
Source: Fresh News
