Phnom penh: Cambodia and the Philippines have pledged to elevate their bilateral relations and cooperation, as affirmed by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. during a meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. The commitment was made during President Marcos's three-day state visit to Cambodia, highlighting efforts to deepen ties in several key areas.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Cambodian Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to President Marcos and his delegation, underscoring the significance of high-level exchanges in demonstrating the strong friendship and mutual commitment between the two nations. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the progress in relations and emphasized Cambodia's value of its long-standing relationship with the Philippines, which is based on mutual respect and shared interests.
President Marcos reciprocated the sentiments, thanking the Cambodian government and its people for their hospitality. He agreed on the strength of the current bilateral relationship and stressed cooperation in areas such as military ties, trade, investment, and economic collaboration. President Marcos noted the untapped potential for deeper cooperation between the two countries.
The discussions between the leaders focused on enhancing cooperation in priority areas, including security, national defense, trade, agriculture, tourism, energy, and people-to-people connectivity. They also explored opportunities for collaboration through multilateral mechanisms within ASEAN and other regional and international frameworks to promote peace, stability, and prosperity.
The President of the Philippines expressed support for the ceasefire along the Cambodia-Thailand border and affirmed the Philippines' willingness to aid in achieving a permanent ceasefire. Prime Minister Hun Manet thanked President Marcos for the Philippines' role in the Interim Observer Team in Cambodia and for increasing its observer count.
The meeting concluded with the signing of three key documents: a Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services, a Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education Cooperation, and an Exchange of Notes on Combating Transnational Crime.