PHNOM PENH: Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, met with departing EU Ambassador Carmen Moreno on August 16 to reflect on their relationship over the last four years and to thank the European Union for its cooperative efforts to help rebuild Cambodia after the war.

"The partnership includes a number of initiatives, such as infrastructure rehabilitation, agricultural development, displacement management, human resources and demining, which have contributed to social progress [and a] remarkable economy in Cambodia ," he said.

He recognized the vital aid provided over the last four years, especially during the Covid-19 crisis, from the European Union and Member States. The EU provided vaccines, grants and 499 million Euros in loans towards reducing the impact of the pandemic and helping to rehabilitate socio-economic development.

While noting differences of opinion on specific issues, both sides expressed satisfaction over the recent significant developments in Cambodia-EU cooperation, including the frequent high-level dialogues held which broadened the world’s perspective on Cambodia.

The EU is currently Cambodia's fifth largest trading partner and reaffirmed its commitment to provide 1.43 billion Euros to support Cambodia in accordance with the "Common European Development Strategy 2021-2027.”

The two sides will be attending the 12th meeting of the Cambodia-EU Joint Commission to be held in Brussels this year to set out an action plan on strengthening further collaboration.

Ambassador Moreno praised Cambodia's chairmanship of ASEAN throughout 2022, including the successful hosting of the ASEAN-EU Summit, which took place in December 2022.