Phnom Penh: Cambodia and Japan are both happy and satisfied with their thriving relations of friendship and cooperation and both have agreed that the year 2023 will be an important juncture for celebration as it marks the 70th anniversary of formal ties between the two nations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia,Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn and the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Hayashi Yoshimasa both made the declaration of the ties of the two nations during their cordial telephone conversation on Thursday.

By simultaneously sending his congratulations on the foreign minister of Japan’s appointment, Cambodia’s deputy prime minister has recalled Japan’s important contribution to Cambodia’s peace and reconstruction. He has extended his gratitude to Japan for continuing to assist Cambodia’s socio-economic development and providing support for Cambodia’s effort to respond to Covid-19 pandemic, including through the provision of medical equipment and vaccines.

The two Foreign Ministers have exchanged views on various fields of bilateral cooperation, including the development of Sihanoukville seaport, facilitation of trade and economic exchanges and reinvigoration of people-to-people connectivity following the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.

In the area of political-security, Japan’s premier has commended Cambodia’s contribution to international peacekeeping and has pledged to further support Cambodia in this endeavor. Both have expressed satisfaction with the ongoing high-level and active consultations between the two foreign ministries on bilateral cooperation, including on the promotion of human rights in Cambodia.

Apart from bilateral relations, the two Foreign Ministers also shared aspiration to strengthen cooperation under multilateral frameworks. Prak Sokhonn has expressed his appreciation for Japanese assistance and commitment to the success of Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022. He also reiterated full support for the convening of a special ASEAN-Japan Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan dialogue relations in 2023, in Japan. The two leaders were also able to discussed at length on the situation in Myanmar and both shared the view that ASEAN has an important role to assist Myanmar in finding peaceful approach to resolve their crisis.

In conclusion, Japan’s Hayashi has sent his good wishes to Cambodia and success in hosting the 13th ASEM Summit on 25-26 November.