Phnom penh: Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, welcomed a delegation of Members of the United States Congress led by Hon. Beth Van Duyne, Congresswoman from Texas, at the National Assembly Palace on August 28. The meeting emphasized friendship and solidarity, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to enhancing parliamentary cooperation, advancing bilateral relations, and safeguarding peace and stability in the region.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Samdech Khuon Sudary highlighted the visit as a symbol of strong friendship between the two nations, especially as Cambodia addresses its border conflict with Thailand. She noted that Cambodia-U.S. relations, initiated in the 1950s, have been steadily growing and recently reached a new level. Samdech expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for his intervention in calling for an immediate ceasefire during recent border clashes, which she credited with saving thousands of lives.
Furthermore, she acknowledged the contributions of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as ASEAN Chair, in facilitating peace talks with China's active participation and other partners. She proudly mentioned Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet's formal nomination of President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Emphasizing peace as the foundation of socio-economic development, she expressed Cambodia's aim to achieve high-income status by 2050, emphasizing the necessity of lasting peace and robust cooperation with other countries, particularly ASEAN members.
In terms of economic cooperation, Samdech Khuon Sudary praised the reduction of U.S. tariffs on Cambodian exports from 49 percent to 19 percent as a significant step forward in bilateral trade. She discussed Cambodia's strategic importance within ASEAN and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), expressing hope for expanded collaboration in investment, technology, cultural exchange, and tourism.
Hon. Beth Van Duyne, visiting Cambodia again after three years, expressed her pleasure at returning and reiterated her delegation's mission to deepen cooperation in trade, education, technology, and peace. She noted that both Cambodian and Thai citizens desire peace and highlighted the United States' view of Cambodia as having substantial investment potential due to its resources, port access, and raw materials. She also advocated for stronger legislative ties between the U.S. Congress and Cambodia's National Assembly.
During the meeting, Hon. Lork Kheng, Chairwoman of the Commission on Public Health, Social Affairs, Veterans, Youth Rehabilitation, Labour, Vocational Training, and Women's Affairs, appealed for peace by recalling Cambodia's hardships under past conflicts. She stressed that Cambodia seeks peace, not war, and urged continued support from the United States and ASEAN for long-term regional stability.
Both sides concurred that Cambodia-U.S. relations, founded on decades of friendship, will continue to grow, fostering stability, prosperity, and new opportunities for both nations and their peoples.