Cambodia, S Korea agree to elevate ties to new high

Cambodia, S Korea agree to elevate ties to new high

Mr Hun Sen proposes to organise a celebration to mark 30 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Cambodia and South Korea have deepened bilateral cooperation and pushed to elevate bilateral relations to a new high as the two countries are getting ready to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties next year.

The commitment was made at a meeting held yesterday between Senate President Hun Sen and newly-appointed Ambassador of South Korea to Cambodia Kim Chang Yong at the Senate Building in Phnom Penh.

During the meeting, the Senate President spoke highly of Kim’s diplomatic mission, which he said is expected to play an important role in further enhancing the bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and South Korea.

As the diplomatic ties between Cambodia and South Korea turn to 30 years next year after its re-establishment in 1996, Mr Hun Sen proposed to organise a celebration to mark the occasion.

“On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of relations between Cambodia and the Republic of Korea, the two sides should expand their relationship from a strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership, because currently the relationship between the two countries has progressed in almost all fields,” he said.

Noting that the close relations between Cambodia and the Republic of Korea are growing steadily, Kim said he will strive to further expand the relationship, enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, besides other sectors.

“The Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Cambodia have enjoyed significant cooperation, including trade, economy, and investment,” Kim said.

Regarding upgrading the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in the near future, Kim said he will wholeheartedly work towards this.

Currently, there are about 200 South Korean investors in Cambodia, Kim said. “This clearly shows the good relations existing between Cambodia and South Korea.”

The two nations continue to leverage the bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms, including the Cambodia-Korea Free Trade Agreement, the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Official figures from the Ministry of Commerce showed that the bilateral trade between Cambodia and South Korea rose by nearly 10 percent to $923 million last year, in which Cambodia exported $326 million worth of goods to the East Asia nation.

khmertimeskh