PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has virtually met with the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday. The two Prime Ministers have discussed the importance of bilateral, regional and international cooperation. Prime Minister Hun Sen has hoped that the Japanese Prime Minister will attend the ASEAN Summit next year in which Cambodia will be hosting.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has thanked the Government of Japan and its people for their continued support to Cambodia’s development. The Prime Minister has specified about Japan’s assistance in the fight against Covid-19. The Japanese government has provided vaccine, ambulances and other medical equipment to the Kingdom of Cambodia in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic.

The Cambodian Prime Minister says Cambodia is a loyal friend of Japan. Prime Minister Hun Sen and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has recalled the cooperation history between the two nations. They remembered the deployment of Japanese peacekeepers to Cambodia in 1992.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has also asked his Japanese counterpart to continue to support the training of Cambodian students by providing scholarships and continue to encourage more investors to come to the kingdom. He has also requested to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to continue promoting the cooperation between Japanese and Cambodian peacekeepers, especially in providing training for the Cambodian peacekeepers.

On the Japanese Prime Minister’s side, he has reaffirmed his readiness to support and cooperate with Cambodia in hosting ASEAN Summit next year. Since 2023 is the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan and also the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN friendship both Prime Ministers have agreed to organize a program to commemorate to these two anniversaries.