PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment, development assistance and people-to-people exchanges.

On December 14, Foreign Affairs Minister Sok Chenda Sophea met with the US Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Melissa Brown where the two officials discussed priorities within the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea outlined the people-centered policies of the new administration which include health care, education and training, and job creation. The Minister thanked the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its support in some of these areas.

While acknowledging the many aspects of the United States and Cambodia relationship, Melissa Brown emphasized that the United States will continue to deepen cooperation and explore opportunities for new partnerships. She stressed that the United States will take a holistic approach to US-Cambodian relations.

The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, including Cambodia's future role as a facilitator for the ASEAN-US dialogue partnership. She stressed that Cambodia's good reputation as chair of ASEAN in the past its constructive approach to the Ukraine crisis will facilitate dialogue.

The United States will also work to support Cambodia's role as chair of the Fifth Review Meeting of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Storage, Production and Transfer of Landmines.

The discussions reaffirmed the readiness of both sides to continue dialogue on a wide range of topics, even when the two sides have differing views. Both sides stressed the importance of the need for trust and mutual communication as partners.