Cambodia has asked the Philippines to import more rice from Cambodia and to make use of Cambodia’s new investment law with more favourable incentives to explore investment opportunities in the country, especially in agri-food industry.
The request was made by H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a meeting with H.E. Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines here in Phnom Penh on Nov. 9, on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits.
H.E. Enrique A. Manalo highly appreciated the long-lasting friendship and good relations as well as close cooperation in many areas between the two countries; and congratulated Cambodia for “the excellent chairmanship of ASEAN” while Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn thanked the Philippines for its support to Cambodia’s ASEAN chairmanship 2022.
H.E. Prak Sokhonn and H.E. Enrique A. Manalo shared the belief that the bilateral meeting between President H.E. Ferdinand Marcos and Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen tomorrow while both nations are commemorating the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries would add a momentum to the bilateral cooperation enhancement.
The two Foreign Ministers recalled the fruitful results of the 3rd Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Prak Sokhonn and H.E. Teodoro Locsin Jr., former Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, last December and encouraged the implementation of its Agreed Minutes that serves as a roadmap for both sides to deepen the existing good cooperation.
Both sides noted with pleasure the increasing trade exchange between both countries and, with a view to further promote bilateral trade and investment cooperation, they agreed to encouraged both sides to expedite the negotiation on the draft Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation.
Besides, they touched on tourism cooperation promotion and Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn recommended to increase direct flights between Manila-Phnom Penh-Malina and possibly Cebu-Siem Reap-Cebu. They also discussed the cooperation on human resource development, security and defence, agriculture, and the exchange of support between the two countries on international arena.
The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the crisis in Myanmar, in which Secretary Manalo appreciated the effort by H.E. Prak Sokhonn as Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar and assured the Philippines’ continued support to Cambodia’s endeavours.
