PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and the Czech Republic will continue to further strengthen their bilateral relations in all areas through dialogue.
The agreement was made during the 2nd Session of Bilateral Consultations between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Czech Republic, held in Phnom Penh on June 15 under the co-chairmanship of H.E. Dr. CHEM Widhya, Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) and his Czech counterpart H.E. Jiří Kozák.
According to a press release of MFAIC AKP received this morning, both sides noted with deep satisfaction the traditional excellent bonds of friendship and flourishing cooperation between the two countries. They have expressed their firm commitment to further enhancing across-the-board mutually beneficial cooperation.
H.E. Dr. CHEM Widhya expressed the deep gratitude of the Royal Government and the People of Cambodia to the Czech Government and People for the generous development assistance for Cambodia over the years since the liberation of the Cambodian people from the genocide regime of Pol Pot, which has significantly contributed to the well-being and development of the country. He went on to brief his counterpart about the political situation and the economic development of Cambodia.
H.E. Jiří Kozák commended Cambodia’s rapidly growing economy, the great success of the Cambodian Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022, and in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic. He also stressed that the political stability and dynamic economic growth of Cambodia within the ASEAN region have encouraged more Czech investors to come to Cambodia.
During their discussions, both sides reviewed existing cooperation schemes. They exchanged views on ways and means to further elevate bilateral ties from development cooperation to a strong partnership. They underlined priority areas in healthcare and education. The talk also covered other topics including trade and investment, culture, tourism, air transport, renewable energy, science and technology, agriculture, and rural development among others. They also agreed to encourage relevant actors to work together, establishing conducive legal instruments and holding regular investment and business forums in either country to receive active participation by the private sector.
Both sides also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of common interest and concern, during which H.E. Dr. CHEM Widhya commended Czechia’s active participation in its capacity as the Presidency of the EU Commission in the Second Half of 2022 in the EU Indo-Pacific concept and its important contribution to the success of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations in Brussels in December 2022.
At the end of the consultations, both sides expressed a strong interest in continuing the Dialogue through Bilateral Consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, which are an effective mechanism for the follow-up of agreed activities to further deepen the bilateral relations in all fields. The meeting was held successfully in a cordial and fruitful atmosphere. The Third Session of the Bilateral Consultations will be held in the Czech Republic.