PHNOM PENH: On the morning of August 29, Cambodian People's Party President Hun Sen met with outgoing EU Ambassador to Cambodia, Maria del Carmen Moreno, before she moved on to her next role in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

At their meeting, former premier Hun Sen praised the EU’s cooperation in helping Cambodia through the Covid-19 pandemic by providing more than 930,000 doses of the vaccine, in addition to nearly $500 million in loans to help eradicate the virus. He also acknowledged their help in building the new water treatment center in Bak Kheng, which relieved Phnom Penh and the surrounding areas of water shortages.

Ambassador Moreno said that although her four years working in Cambodia were difficult, she was satisfied with the Royal Government’s cooperation.

Former Prime Minister Hun Sen proposed a symbiotic relationship between Europe’s 27 member-states and ASEAN’s ten, with Timor-Leste expected to become number 11. He said that with ASEAN’s population of over 600 million, a complementary social and economic relationship is more beneficial than geopolitical competition.

Moreno noted that things like national reconciliation, demining and human rights are more developed in Cambodia than Sri Lanka. Her experience here will likely prepare her for their struggles. She added that she looks forward to the opportunity to meet with Hun Sen in Sri Lanka, which is more prosperous than Cambodia, but is facing a severe economic crisis and economic collapse.