PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet met with Russian Ambassador Anatoly Borovik today to solidify the friendship between the two countries under the new administration and to plan a trip for the PM’s father, former Prime Minister Hun Sen, to visit Russia after February’s Senate elections install him as president of the legislative body.

The Russian Ambassador and the new administration under Hun Manet are keen to work together as shown by the October 26 meeting and last week’s meeting which had the ambassador meet with Minister of Information, Neth Pheaktra, to strengthen cooperation between Russia’s largest government-owned news agency, TASS, and Cambodia’s state-owned AKP media outlet.

During their meeting, Prime Minister Hun Manet assured the Russian Ambassador that "Cambodia's foreign policy has not changed,” emphasizing a line that his father has been repeating to foreign dignitaries to present a model of stability after the transfer of power in August. Russia sent official observers for the July election, which was widely condemned by Western governments as being neither free nor fair. The Russian observers were impressed with Cambodia’s election process, however, and along with countries like Iran, North Korea, and China, congratulated the CPP on its victory before official results were even announced.

During the meeting, Ambassador Borovik congratulated the Cambodian People's Party on its victory in the 2023 National Assembly election and the new Prime Minister as the Cambodian government enters its seventh term. He expressed confidence that the Russian-Cambodian friendship will grow stronger, in addition to the good cooperation that has existed during the long history of diplomatic ties for the past 67 years.

Prime Minister Hun Manet recalled the good cooperation between Cambodia and Russia, especially during the period when the former Soviet Union supported Cambodia in rebuilding the country after the collapse of the Pol Pot regime.

The Prime Minister and the Ambassador praised the results of bilateral relations in the past, especially the exchange of senior leadership visits in both the legislative and executive branches and planned an upcoming visit for the President of the Senate of Cambodia, former Prime Minister Hun Sen, to visit Russia after the Senate election in February.

Apparently Russian warships will dock at the port of Sihanoukville next month, although no further information was given.