Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, expressed satisfaction with the progress of longstanding relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, during a Bilateral Meeting here on Nov. 13, on the margins of the ASEAN Summits and Related Summits.
According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation AKP received this morning, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern congratulated Samdech Techo Prime Minister for the successful ASEAN Chairmanship and the excellent arrangement in hosting the ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, while acknowledging the wise leadership of Samdech Techo Prime Minister in successfully addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Samdech Techo Prime Minister thanked New Zealand for her important contribution in the peace process in Cambodia and her continued assistance to Cambodia’s socio-economic development, including in the fields of education, agriculture, renewable energy, and demining.
The two Prime Ministers discussed ways to further promote their bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education and people-to-people connectivity. Samdech Techo Prime Minister called for stronger business links, the importation of more Cambodian rice to New Zealand and investment from New Zealand on Agro-industry such as rice mill. He also appreciated New Zealand’s continued contribution to human resource development in Cambodia, including the invaluable scholarships for government officials and students.
On ASEAN-New Zealand relations, Samdech Techo Prime Hun Sen thanked the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern for New Zealand’s support to Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2022 and commended New Zealand’s efforts to deepen the ASEAN-New Zealand Strategic Partnership.
The two Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues, during which Samdech Techo Prime Minister underlined the complexity of Myanmar crisis and Cambodia’s endeavours as Chair of ASEAN this year to push the implementation of the ASEAN Leaders’ Five Point Consensus (5PC).
He stressed Cambodia’s position against threat to use nuclear weapons and reiterated Cambodia’s firm adherence to its constitution, which does not permit foreign military base or presence on Cambodian soil. He underlined that the renovation of Ream Naval Base served solely to strengthen the country’s naval capacities to protect its maritime integrity.
