Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly, received here on Feb. 17 a visiting delegation from the U.S. Congress.
The delegation was led by H.E. Jimmy Panetta, a Democratic Congressman from California, and included Mr. Salud Carbajal, a second Californian Democrat, and Mr. Darin Lahood, a Republican Congressman for Illinois.
In the meeting, Samdech Khuon Sudary said the visit contributed to enhancing bilateral parliamentary ties and people-to-people contacts.
“Economic cooperation between the U.S. and ASEAN in general and with Cambodia have been improving over the years,” she said, adding that Cambodia-U.S. ties were on a “positive trajectory.”
The NA President said Cambodia welcomed U.S. engagement based on the principles of independence, international law and core national interests.
“Democracy is a process which requires the understanding and integration of national contexts and conditions,” she said. “Democracy and human rights cannot be exported or imported. They must evolve from within, based on history and culture and national conditions.”
Samdech Khuon Sudary thanked the U.S. side for its humanitarian assistance and the return of cultural antiquities to Cambodia. “Culture is the soul of the nation,” she said.
The U.S. side expressed deep gratitude for the dialogue with Cambodia, noting that productive meetings with various government agencies and the NA provided a “strong foundation” on which to move forward.
The delegation vowed to send a clear message to the U.S. administration that trade and defence were among key areas to further enhance, along with the rule of law and democracy.
The U.S. side said that Cambodia was on the right path and respected Cambodian values, highlighting the need to move forward together.
Both sides agreed to explore future areas of cooperation.
