Cambodia and Indonesia have expressed their satisfaction with the steady growth of bilateral trade, which exceeded US$1 billion in 2023, and agreed to expedite conclusion of a bilateral MoU on Rice Trade.
The satisfaction was highlighted during the 5th Meeting of the Cambodia-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (5th JCBC), held in Phnom Penh on Aug. 21 under the co-chairmanship of H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, and H.E. Ms. Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, according to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued this afternoon.
The Ministers emphasised the importance of food security, and affirmed commitment to expedite the implementation of the MoU on Agricultural Cooperation, signed in September 2023, and the signing of the MoU on Cooperation on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
To improve connectivity and facilitate economic and cultural exchanges, both sides concurred to endeavour for more direct flights between tourist cities of the two countries, conclude at the earliest an MOU on Cultural Cooperation, renew Sister-Province cooperation between Siem Reap and Central Java and establishment Sister City relationship between Phnom Penh and West Sumatra.
To further promote inbound and outbound investment, the Meeting agreed to expand cooperation between the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) and the Indonesian Ministry of Investment. The Meeting also welcomed the intention of the Indonesian company Perum BULOG to develop agricultural business, namely rice mills and warehouses.
On Political Cooperation, both sides applauded several joint activities conducted to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the Establishment of Cambodia-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations this year.
The Ministers stressed the importance of maintaining and promoting frequent interactions of the executive and legislative bodies of the two countries at all levels, and also highlighted the strategic significance of the exchanges among top leaders, including two recent meetings between Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister HUN Manet and H.E. President Joko Widodo in Jakarta in 2023 and in Melbourne this year.
On defense and security cooperation, the Ministers highly appreciated and agreed to continue ongoing productive engagements, including Army-to-Army Talks, scholarship and training and other exchange activities such as the recent port call by Indonesian Navy Training Ship KRI Bima Suci with 212 crews at Sihanoukville port from Aug. 16 to 19, 2024. The Ministers reaffirmed commitment to enhance the existing good cooperation in fighting transnational crimes, particular trafficking in person by effectively and fully implement relevant instruments under bilateral and ASEAN frameworks
The Meeting had an extensive deliberation on other key areas of cooperation including energy, ICT, health, cooperation in river basin management, industrial cooperation, cooperation on digitalization, and on labour and vocational training.
Sharing the view on the crucial importance of peace for socio-economic development, both sides touched on some regional and international issues. The Ministers underscored the importance of strengthening the ASEAN centrality and unity in engaging with external partners through ASEAN-led mechanisms and reaffirmed the commitment to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific as a guide for ASEAN’s engagement in the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions. The Ministers also affirmed resolve to enhance mutual support and cooperation on international stage.
The meeting was concluded with the signing of the Agreed Minutes of 5th JCBC Meeting. The 6th Meeting of the JCBC will be held in Indonesia in 2026.
During her stay in Cambodia, H.E. Ms. Retno L.P. Marsudi called on Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Prak Sokhonn, First Vice President of the Senate.
