PHNOM PENH: The opening ceremony of the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Cambodia and Japan was held on 9 January 2023 at the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh, where the official 70th anniversary logo was revealed, and the Cambodian and Japanese goodwill ambassadors were also introduced.

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Japanese Embassy, Taninai Ichitomo, and the Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chea Kimtha, exchanged letters from their respective Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers during the ceremony.

Artist, song-writer and producer, Laura Mam, was announced as the goodwill ambassador from Cambodia, while actress and singer, Yoko Minamino, was announced as the goodwill ambassador from Japan. Ms. Minamino was unable to attend the ceremony in person, so she delivered her speech through a recorded video from Japan.

Laura Mam was at the event and spoke with EAC News about how excited and honored she felt being a goodwill ambassador.

"I studied Japanese in high school, I was a big anime fan, I love Kurosawa films, I think Japan has excellence in arts and it's something to aspire towards for Cambodia," said Laura Mam. "We're in a period of change and [Japan and Cambodia have had] many, many years of good relations, so it's really an honor for me. It's a big, big honor for me.”

Remarking on the importance of bilateral relations between Cambodia and Japan, Laura said she thinks Japan has been a great influence on Cambodia.

“We're celebrating 70 years of peace, Japan has been a big help in that," she said. "In that regard, [Japan have] been a wonderful influence in Cambodia and I think they have more to influence us on in terms of committing to excellence. I think that we should continue to work closer and better.

"My very first idol was Uttada Hikaru, with her song, ‘First Love’. She is the first Asian Idol I ever had. So in terms of influence, [Japan have] been huge, and I think that we should continue to have peaceful and wonderful diplomatic relations," added Laura Mam.

Sroeun Menglong, a 4th year student majoring in graphic design, was the winner of the competition to design the 70th anniversary logo. Menglong also spoke with EAC News to explain how he designed the logo.

“I [designed] Cambodia's flag [inside the] number 7. With this design, I added a Cambodian architecture symbol, "Jvear", which can be seen at the royal palace, pagodas, schools, and more. Taking a look at the Japanese [flag], I added sakura flowers, 7 flowers. Each flower represents a decade. In the circle, there are 7 flowers representing 70 years of close friendship," he said.

Recently the Japanese government agreed to provide a grant to the small-scale Kusanone Grassroots Human Security Project, with a total budget of more than US $200,000 allocated for the installation of a clean water supply system in Kampong Khleang commune in Siem Reap province.

Japan believes that the grant will help improve the quality of life of the people living on the project site.