PHNOM PENH: In an effort to combat transnational crime, Cambodia and the US are committed to enhancing law enforcement collaboration. At the same time, the two sides will continue to jointly support culture, demining, peacekeeping, and the environment.
During a bilateral meeting between Cambodia and the United States on Saturday, 12 November, US President Joe Biden congratulated Cambodia on its success in hosting and chairing ASEAN this year, and on Cambodia's support for enhancing ASEAN-US relations to the level of a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during its ASEAN Chairmanship.
The two leaders discussed strengthening their collaboration in areas such as environment, culture, demining, peacekeeping, and law enforcement to combat transnational crime.
Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed gratitude to the US government for its efforts to return stolen Cambodian artifacts to Cambodia.
Regarding demining, Prime Minister Hun Sen requested that the United States continue to assist and support Cambodia in its efforts to achieve a "Mine-free Cambodia by 2025."
Regarding repatriation, Prime Minister Hun Sen outlined Cambodia's stance on accepting Cambodian citizens who were deported from the United States, while taking into account humanitarian and compassionate aspects, and he reaffirmed the continuation of Cambodia's cooperation with the United States on this matter. As has been done in the past, Cambodia continues to conduct online video interviews with Cambodians in compliance with the current Memorandum of Understanding from 2002.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues, during which President Joe Biden complimented Cambodia for its vital role as Chair of ASEAN in resolving the crisis in Myanmar, and further expressed his appreciation for Cambodia's position on the war in Ukraine and the recent firing of ballistic missiles by North Korea.
The ASEAN Chair emphasized Cambodia's resolute opposition to the threat of nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Hun Sen also informed the US President about the cooperation project between Cambodia and Japan through the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in sending Cambodian deminers to Poland to assist in training Ukrainian deminers, as well as Ukraine's request of Japan to provide demining equipment.
