Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said he would lead a delegation to pay an official visit to Cuba next month.
Speaking at a recent graduation ceremony, Samdech Techo Hun Sen pointed out that the planned visit would be done after his speech in the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in September.
“After my address to the UN General Assembly, I will fly to Cuba and pay an official visit there from Sept. 24 to 25, then I will continue to Tokyo for the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister H.E. Abe Shinzo on Sept. 27,” he said.
Regarding the Premier’s upcoming visit to Cuba, Dr. Kin Phea, Director-General of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia said this visit is in line with the diversification of Cambodia’s diplomacy, which mainly focuses on the strengthening of internal affairs and expansion of external relations with other countries, not just with the neighbours.
“The relationship between Cambodia and Cuba is a legacy of the bond dating back to the Cold War. Their relations have not progressed, just remained the same, but what is remarkable is that the two nations have provided mutual support by sharing common views on various issues, both regional and global, while the cultural, trade and investment exchanges between them were rare,” he said.
This is Cambodia’s policy of keeping friends in accordance with the policy set by the government to strengthen the internal, and expand external relations based on the spirit of sovereignty and national independence, he underlined.
“I hope, the visit will yield positive results for strengthening and expanding relations between the two countries,” Dr. Kin Phea added.
Cambodia established diplomatic relations with Cuba on April 15, 1960. Since then, both nations have maintained normal ties in some different areas, especially in education, and health.
Twenty-three (23) years ago, in September 1999, Samdech Techo Hun Sen paid a five-day visit to Cuba to tighten ties between the two former Cold War allies. His first visit to Cuba was part of a tour of North America that included the opening of the 54th session of the UN General Assembly and a summit of French-speaking nations in Canada.
