PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has requested the United Kingdom to open its market for Cambodia's agro-products in addition to textile and footwear products.

The request was raised here at the Peace Palace this morning when Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet received H.E. Dominic Williams, British Ambassador to Cambodia.

In the meeting, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed thanks to the UK for launching the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) project and asked the UK to examine the possibility of importing agro-products from Cambodia besides textiles and footwear.

The Premier also highlighted Cambodia's support for green economy and renewable energy and expressed satisfaction over the cooperation between the two countries in these areas in the future. He also expressed his expectation that Cambodia-UK cooperation will continue to flourish in all areas, especially in the area of trade, which will allow Cambodia to expand more new markets in the UK.

For the defense sector, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expected closer cooperation in training, joint exercises, and visits of UK naval vessels.

At the same time, the Prime Minister assured that even though Cambodia has a new Royal Government, its foreign policy, especially in the relationship between Cambodia and the UK, will not change.

For his part, H.E. Dominic Williams congratulated Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Cambodia and on the 70th anniversary of Cambodia-UK diplomatic ties, with growing relations between the two countries in all fields.

H.E. Dominic Williams mentioned in the meeting that in 2023, in the field of education, there are three British schools, including a university in Cambodia.

H.E. Ambassador also underlined DCTS, which, he said, is a new system that replaces the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) after Britain leaves the EU.

H.E. Dominic Williams reaffirmed that the UK remains committed to supporting demining activities in Cambodia until 2025.

In addition, the British side suggested the study of the possibility of joint cooperation in two areas in the Pentagon Strategy Phase 1, namely the green economy and renewable energy sectors. He hoped that the Cambodia-UK cooperation would further develop in all areas and sectors, including politics.

The ambassador also took note of the success of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, assessing that this is the end of a dark page in history, while Cambodia is progressing in all areas as today.