Cambodia, Japan to Upgrade Bilateral Relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023


Cambodia and Japan highly valued the bilateral relations between the two countries and noted with satisfaction its upgrading to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, the commemorative year of the 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The satisfaction was made here on Dec. 6 during the farewell meeting between H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and H.E. Mikami Masahiro, outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia.

In the talk, both sides shared the view to organise some activities to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation to commemorate this 70th Anniversary and with that in mind, Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn confirmed his readiness to visit Japan by the end of January next year at his Japanese counterpart’s invitation.

The Deputy PM appreciated the Ambassador’s active contribution in promoting the ties and fruitful cooperation, especially the good arrangement for the exchange of high-level visits, including the official visit to Cambodia of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in March this year and his attendance in the ASEAN-Related Summits last November as well as the two visits of Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen to participate in the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Kumamoto, Japan in April this year and to attend the State Funeral for former PM ABE Shinzo last September. He expressed sincere thanks for Japan’s Official Development Assistance that has contributed to Cambodia’s socio-economic development and support in Cambodia’s fight against the pandemic and post Covid-19 recovery.

Ambassador Masahiro commended Cambodia’s successful ASEAN Chairmanship, particularly Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s and H.E. Prak Sokhonn’s excellent performance of the country’s duties as the Chair that brought about the remarkable outcomes of the AMM and Related Meetings and the ASEAN Summits and Related Summits hosted by Cambodia at the time of many serious regional and international crises.

The outgoing diplomat also praised Cambodia for the endeavours in helping Myanmar return to normalcy, underlining that without those efforts, the situation in Myanmar would be much worse.

The Deputy PM thanked Japan for its significant support to Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship.