From June 24 to 28, 2024, Chum Sounry, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, led a delegation to Cuba on a working visit aimed at expanding cooperative endeavors between the nations. This visit saw Sounry co-chair the third installment of Bilateral Consultations with Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Havana on June 26, 2024.
The sessions served as platforms for strengthening the enduring bonds of camaraderie that have tied Cambodia and Cuba over the years. The officials reviewed the trajectory of cooperation across a diverse array of sectors, notably trade, agriculture, health, sports, education, culture, and information. Key to the discussions was the intention to further amplify trade links by engaging various ministries, business chambers, and private sector entities through virtual sessions and exchange visits.
Agricultural collaboration was at the forefront, with Deputy Foreign Minister Camejo acknowledging Cambodia’s significant assistance in bolstering Cuba’s rice industry. The meeting solidified the intention to fully execute agreements between respective ministries of agriculture and expedite a memorandum of understanding (MoU) pertaining to rice cultivation in Cuba.
In the health sector, Secretary of State Sounry recognized Cuba’s impact on Cambodia through the delivery of scholarships and healthcare expertise, especially in areas such as general practice, specialist training, and sophisticated medical technologies. Cuba’s assistance in establishing a specialized cancer hospital in Cambodia was particularly lauded, heralding a new era in medical treatment capability for the Southeast Asian nation.
Regarding education, Sounry expressed gratitude for scholarships extended to Cambodian students and advocated for the expansion of academic opportunities in medical, technical, and linguistic fields. One proposal included exploring a tuition-free model—currently popular in Latin America—that would allow more Cambodian students to pursue advanced degrees in Cuba, especially in the medical and pharmaceutical sciences.
Sports cooperation also received accolades, with Cambodia thanking Cuba for its support during the 32nd SEA Games and reaffirming the execution of a bilateral agreement signed in 2022 to enhance engagement in physical education and sports.
The discussions transitioned to the realm of information, with the two counterparties agreeing to enrich exchanges of cultural, touristic, and commercial content, alongside enabling reciprocal journalist visits.
The delegates further reinforced their commitment to the MoU on Cooperation and Cultural Exchange Program for 2022-2027, ensuring continued and fruitful cultural connections between the two countries.
The consultation also touched upon collaborative prospects within ASEAN-Cuba and the UN framework, addressing regional and global issues of joint interest.
Both parties left the meetings with a solidified commitment to ongoing dialogue and cooperation, anticipating the next round of talks scheduled to be conducted in Phnom Penh.
Additionally, Secretary of State Sounry met with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. During this meeting, Sounry recounted the positive outcomes of their third bilateral consultation, stressing productive talks on diplomatic, political, and economic relations, and potential growth in spheres such as education, health, agriculture, culture, and sports.
In a separate dialogue with Maury Hechavarría Bermúdez, Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, the two ministers resolved to continue advancing agricultural cooperation achievements and to prompt the signing of the forthcoming MoU on rice development in Cuba.
Complementing official duties, Secretary of State Sounry and the Cambodian delegation also took time to connect with Cambodian students currently studying in Cuba, emphasizing the human element central to this burgeoning intergovernmental partnership.
Source: Fresh News
