PHNOM PENH: On 18th May 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting with Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia.
The two leaders held discussions on the entire range of bilateral issues, including cooperation in the fields of defence and security, trade and investment, human resource development, development cooperation, Connectivity, Covid-19 situation, post-pandemic economic recovery, and people-to-people ties.
They expressed satisfaction at the pace of bilateral cooperation, PM Hun Sen emphasised the importance that Cambodia attaches to its relations with India. Prime Minister Modi reciprocated the sentiment and stressed Cambodia’s valued role in India’s Act East policy and sought to enhance the scope of the bilateral relationship, besides working for expeditious progress on existing initiatives. The leaders reviewed the robust development partnership between both countries, including capacity-building programmes under the ITEC scheme, ICCR scholarships, and Quick Impact Projects under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation framework.
Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the historical and civilization links between the two countries and expressed his happiness at India’s involvement in the restoration of Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear temples in Cambodia, which depict the cultural and linguistic connection between the two countries. Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked India for providing 325,000 doses of Indian-manufactured Covishield vaccines to Cambodia under Quad Vaccine Initiative and also for providing soft loans, grant aid, and other support for the social and economic development of Cambodia.
The two leaders complemented each other on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia being celebrated this year. As part of these celebrations, Prime Minister Modi invited His Majesty the King of Cambodia and King Mother to visit India at a mutually convenient time in 2023.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared interest, including the Myanmar situation, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Indo Pacific, South China Sea, and the Korean Peninsula. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Cambodia on assuming the Chairmanship of ASEAN and assured India’s full support and assistance to Cambodia for the success of its Chairmanship. He also welcomed Cambodia’s active engagement with Myanmar as ASEAN Chair, including the visits to PM Hun Sen and Special Envoy to Myanmar. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work closely with Myanmar while reiterating the centrality of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific.
Source: Embassy of India, Phnom Penh
