PHNOM PENH: The President of the National Assembly of Cambodia requested the Prime Minister of Cuba to further promote trade and cooperation between the two countries.

During a courtesy call with the Prime Minister of Cuba on Wednesday morning, 5 October 2022, the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, Heng Samrin, requested the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz to promote and increase cooperation in trade and investment between the two countries to a larger scale as it is currently limited.

"The presence of the current Prime Minister of Cuba will further enhance the existing good cooperation in line with the current regional and global context," he said.

On this occasion, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz also thanked the President of the National Assembly for the honor of this morning's courtesy call.

He also mentioned that he always read and followed the heroism of President Heng Samrin in participating in the liberation and development of the nation so far.

However, the Cuban Prime Minister stressed that the recent visit of Prime Minister Hun Sen to Cuba and his current visit to Cambodia, himself, will enhance trade relations and cooperation while the economy and investment between the two countries are growing.

He also brought an invitation from the President of the National Assembly of Cuba to invite President Heng Samrin to lead a high-level delegation of the National Assembly of Cambodia to visit Cuba.

In response, President Heng Samrin accepted the invitation of the President of the National Assembly of Cuba, promising to lead a high-level delegation of the National Assembly of Cambodia to pay an official visit to Cuba at an appropriate time.

President Heng Samrin added that the Republic of Cuba is a good friend of Cambodia. He stated that Cuba has always supported Cambodia through all circumstances, especially when Cambodia had just won liberation from the genocidal regime of Pol Pot on 7 January 1979.

He said Cuba provided emergency social, health, and education assistance to meet the needs of the Cambodian people in times of need, in line with the Khmer proverb "Good friends help each other in times of need."

Finally, he expressed his support and appreciation for the results of Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to the Republic of Cuba last week to strengthen the ties of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation between the two countries which provide benefits to both nations.