Cambodia and Japan deepen strategic partnership and cooperation.

Cambodia and Japan deepen strategic partnership and cooperation.

Cambodia and Japan agreed to further work toward maintaining and strengthening an international order based on the rule of law, as well as a multilateral free trade system, according to a Joint Statement between Cambodia and Japan released on Friday.

The Joint Statement added that during the bilateral Summit Meeting on 30th May, Prime Minister Hun Manet and ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, stressed the importance of expanding and deepening the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” between the two countries, including the co-creation of economic and social values and security cooperation based on the trust and friendship that both countries have built over the years.

They also concurred on further working toward maintaining and strengthening an international order based on the rule of law as well as a multilateral free trading system.

Related to the co-creation of economic and social values, the two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress in concrete cooperation, including the “Co-creation for common agenda initiative” in the digital field, since the launch of the “Three New Cooperation Approaches” in July last year, consisting of social infrastructure development in water and digital fields, maritime connectivity, and humanitarian mine action.

The two Prime Ministers announced the attached “Cambodia-Japan Economic Co-Creation Package”. They concurred in further promoting cooperation, such as improving the business environment in Cambodia, including through Japan’s contribution to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), supporting Japanese companies, forming Public-Private Partnership projects, and advancing telecommunications networks for industrial enhancement and supply chain resilience.

The two Prime Ministers confirmed that the development of Sihanoukville Port contributes to regional connectivity and trade promotion, and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing cooperation towards its maintenance and development as a regional port and logistics hub. The two Prime Ministers also reiterated their commitment to advancing cooperation for strengthening the capabilities of Cambodia’s maritime police and the National Committee for Maritime Security.

The two Prime Ministers exchanged views on promoting democracy and the rule of law. Prime Minister Ishiba expressed Japan’s intention to continue supporting Cambodia’s efforts by providing legal and technical assistance, as well as electoral support, and sharing Japan’s experience in democracy.

Prime Minister Hun Manet appreciated Japan’s valuable and continued support in this field and expressed his intention further to embed the outcomes of this support into Cambodian society. In this connection, he also highly valued Japan’s role as the penholder of the resolution on Advisory Services and Technical Assistance for Cambodia at the Human Rights Council.

The two Prime Ministers confirmed that people-to-people exchanges in business, tourism, academia, institutions, sports, and cultural exchanges form the basis of the co-creative relationship between the two countries and expressed their intention to promote them further at the governmental level. The two Prime Ministers shared the recognition that Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and the GREEN EXPO 2027 would be great opportunities to promote exchanges and reaffirmed their commitment to advance cooperation.

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