Phnom Penh, July 15: Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen extended his heartfelt appreciation to outgoing South Korean Ambassador Park Jong-Wook during a farewell meeting held at the Senate on Tuesday. The meeting marked the conclusion of Ambassador Park’s diplomatic mission in Cambodia and celebrated his contributions to advancing bilateral relations between the two nations.
According to Senate spokesperson Chea Thyrith, Samdech Techo Hun Sen warmly welcomed Ambassador Park and praised his tenure, noting the ambassador’s steadfast commitment to deepening the friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and South Korea. He commended Park’s efforts to promote collaboration across various sectors and his role in fostering diplomatic goodwill.
Ambassador Park, who assumed office in 2023, expressed his sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve in Cambodia and meet with Samdech Techo. He highlighted key achievements during his tenure, including facilitating the official visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet to South Korea in 2024 — a significant milestone in bilateral diplomacy.
Park noted that his mission had seen expanded cooperation between ministries and the growth of support from South Korea, particularly through concessional loans aimed at boosting Cambodia’s infrastructure, such as road and bridge development. He expressed optimism that the long-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge would occur in early 2026.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen reiterated his satisfaction with the ambassador’s service and recalled his own involvement in re-establishing diplomatic ties with South Korea in 1996, which led to the full restoration of relations in 1997. He reflected on the steady growth of bilateral ties over the decades, especially in trade, investment, and economic collaboration.
The Senate President also acknowledged South Korea’s solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, including its continued flight connectivity with Cambodia, which helped sustain people-to-people and commercial exchanges during challenging times.
Ambassador Park reaffirmed his appreciation for Cambodia’s recognition of South Korea’s developmental support and praised Samdech Techo’s pivotal role in strengthening bilateral relations since their re-establishment. He voiced confidence in the future of Cambodia-Korea relations and expressed hope to return for a visit in the years to come.
Concluding the meeting, Samdech Techo wished Ambassador Park Jong-Wook success in his future endeavors and expressed gratitude for his enduring contribution to Cambodia-Korea friendship.
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