Cambodia, Germany Hold 2nd Round of Bilateral Political Consultations

The Kingdom of Cambodia and the Federal Republic of Germany have recently organised the 2nd Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between their Foreign Ministries. The Cambodian side was headed by H.E. Dr. CHEM Widhya, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, while the German side was led by H.E. Ms. Petra Sigmund, Director-General for Asia and the Pacific at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. According to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation issued this evening, the high-level meeting, held in Berlin, Germany on Jan. 24, encompassed a thorough review of the subjects raised in the First Round of Bilateral Political Consultations and in-depth discussions on emerging issues crucial to both countries. Both dignitaries reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to enhancing cooperation across various domains, including political, economic, trade, education, tourism, environment, and parliamentary relations. Ad ditionally, they emphasised the importance of reinforcing cooperation within the framework of EU-Cambodia and EU-ASEAN relations as well as bringing mutual support in the international arena. Seizing the opportunity, H.E. Dr. CHEM Widhya highlighted recent historical events that have strengthened bilateral relations of the two countries, including the Official Visit of Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier and the First Lady to Cambodia, the bilateral talks between Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN Sen, then Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, the Official Visit of H.E. PRAK Sokhonn, then Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to Berlin, and several visits by German Parliamentary Delegations to Cambodia. The Cambodian side underscored Germany's crucial role in Cambodia's socio-economic development as the largest bilateral trade partner in the EU. H.E. Dr. CHEM Widhya also recalled the successful conclusion of t he Inter-Governmental Cooperation Negotiations held in Bonn in October last year. Discussions also delved into cooperation in a multilateral framework and the exchange of views on key regional and global issues of common interest and concern. The meeting concluded with both dignitaries expressing deep satisfaction with the Consultations, recognising them as a pivotal mechanism for sustaining meaningful dialogues between the two countries. Earlier in the day, H.E. Dr. CHEM Widhya paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ms. Susanne Baumann, Secretary of State of the German Federal Foreign Office. During this meeting, both high-ranking dignitaries discussed relations between their two countries, both at bilateral and multilateral levels, commending the excellent ties of friendship and cooperation that have happily existed for decades. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse