PHNOM PENH: The new British Ambassador to Cambodia, Dominic Williams, has affirmed his ambition to support Cambodia in the areas of economy, trade, investment, education, finance, infrastructure, renewable energy, environment and more. In addition, he has expressed his wish to expand and deepen the relationship between Cambodia and the United Kingdom.

The British Ambassador expressed this ambition while meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace on Monday afternoon, 20 February 2023.

The Prime Minister's personal assistant, Eang Sophalleth, told the media after the meeting that the British Ambassador expressed respect for Prime Minister Hun Sen's leadership on a number of important issues, including bringing peace and political stability to Cambodia, preventing the spread of Covid-19, successfully reopening the country and economy, managing the Cambodian economy well, leading the ASEAN Summit and related meetings with great success, and leading demining efforts with the aim of becoming a mine-free country by 2025.

Ambassador Williams informed the Prime Minister that he had visited Cambodia in 2010 and comparing the country now to what it was back then, he has observed a massive and rapid growth.

The Prime Minister, in turn, also thanked Ambassador Williams for expressing an appreciation of Cambodia's progress as well as the kind remarks made on his leadership. The Prime Minister praised the British Ambassador for speaking Khmer fluently, and also thanked the United Kingdom for assisting Cambodia in demining.

The Prime Minister said that Cambodia has suffered tragedy for more than 40 years due to landmines, and is now using a lot of resources, with many donors and partner organizations providing their support and assistance, to make Cambodia a landmine-free country by 2025.

He further confirmed to Ambassador Williams that he wishes to see a British University established in Cambodia, and also encouraged more British investments to be made in the country in the future.