Phnom penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Republic of the Philippines have signed three pivotal cooperation documents aimed at enhancing their collaboration in combating transnational crime, higher education, and air services. This development is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the signing ceremony took place at the Peace Palace and was attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and Philippine President H.E. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., who is currently on a three-day state visit to Cambodia. The agreements were finalized following bilateral discussions between the two leaders.
The three documents include an Exchange of Note on the Amendment of Paragraph 1: Areas of Cooperation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Police of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Philippine National Police, focusing on combating transnational crime. This was signed by H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, and H.E. Ms. Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.
A Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education was also signed, with H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of Cambodia, and H.E. Ms. Shirley C. Agrupis, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines, acting as signatories. Furthermore, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services, with H.E. Dr. Mao Havannall, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia, and H.E. Jim C. Sydiongco, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, representing their respective nations.
In addition to these agreements, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet emphasized that both countries have committed to further deepening cooperation in other sectors, such as defense and security, trade and investment, economic partnership, and enhancing people-to-people connectivity.