Paris, France: Cambodia's National Assembly President, Khuon Sodary, expressed his country's full support for the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie's (APF) Strategic Framework for 2023-2030. The framework emphasizes strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, respecting national sovereignty, and promoting cooperation and legal harmonization among member states.

During the discussions, the Cambodian delegation underscored the vital role of both bilateral and multilateral collaborations under the APF's umbrella in advancing parliamentary diplomacy. This initiative aims at fostering peace and sustainable development, with a keen focus on gender equality, women's empowerment, cultural enrichment, and addressing climate change challenges.

Following Cambodia's removal from the APF's political scrutiny list in 2023, the President of the National Assembly sought APF's assistance in various domains, including healthcare, human resource development, and the integration of the French language within the Cambodian Parliament. Additionally, there's a push for Cambodia's transformation into a digital legislative body.

The National Assembly also voiced Cambodia's readiness to serve as a conduit for French language and culture in Southeast Asia. This is in line with the proposal by Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Manet, urging France to establish a French Language and Culture Center in Cambodia. Mr. Fuchs recognized Cambodia's pivotal role as a significant Francophone country within the region and as an active APF member, advocating for enhanced cooperation. He highlighted the importance of maintaining dialogue with the populace, even amidst severed intergovernmental ties, and voiced APF's full support for Cambodia's bid to host the Francophonie Summit in 2026.

Further, Mr. Fuchs suggested that APF and Cambodia could collaboratively address shared challenges faced by member countries, such as women's rights, climate change, and the reduction of food and medical waste.

Notably, Cambodia is among the 87 members of the APF, established in 1967 in Luxembourg, reflecting its commitment to the Francophonie's values and objectives on the global stage.