PHNOM PENH, April 26, 2024 — Cambodia has formally requested that the United States continue its support for capacity building, particularly for officials of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).

The request was made by SUN Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice President of the CDC, during a farewell meeting with W. Patrick Murphy, the outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, at the CDC headquarters on April 24.

SUN Chanthol commended Ambassador Murphy for his role in enhancing the bilateral relations and cooperation between Cambodia and the U.S., and for his efforts in fostering the development of Cambodian youth.

Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister revealed his plans to travel to the U.S. soon to engage with American investors and encourage investment in Cambodia.

Ambassador Murphy highlighted the strong foundation of Cambodia-U.S. relations, supported by frameworks like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which have significantly contributed to the capacity building of Cambodian youth. These efforts are in alignment with Cambodia's goals to reach upper middle-income status by 2030 and high-income status by 2050.

Murphy also praised Cambodia’s successful hosting of the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in 2022, and the visit of U.S. President Joe Biden, which underscored the country's growing prominence and success on the international stage.