PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has received two courtesy visits from foreign diplomats on Friday. First was the Foreign Minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai followed by the outgoing Lao Ambassador Amphay Kindavong. They have discussed about the upcoming ASEAN chairmanship of Cambodia as well as the continued cooperation between nations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Don Pramudwinai has arrived in the Kingdom of Cambodia on Thursday. He paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace on Friday morning. Prime Minister’s assistant, Eang Sophallet says the foreign minister conveyed greetings and congratulations from Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to Prime Minister Hun Sen who will assume the role of ASEAN Chair in 2022. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has also lauded Cambodia’s success on COVID-19 control and vaccination policy, as well as the rapid development of Cambodia.

In response, Prime Minister Hun Sen has thanked his Thai counterpart for the greetings and congratulations, and informed his guest of the key goals of Cambodia as the ASEAN Chair next year such as the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic to resume social and economic activities, promote people-to-people connectivity, and strengthen the friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the ASEAN member countries.

The Prime Minister has also laid stress on Cambodia’s stance on the South China Sea issue – push for strict implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, boost negotiations between concerned parties, and strive to conclude the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Apart from visiting Prime Minister, the Thai foreign minister co-chairs with his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn at the 11th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand until Saturday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has also received a courtesy visit from the outgoing Lao Ambassador Amphay Kindavong after three years of diplomatic mission in the kingdom. The Prime Minister says that the mission has contributed significantly to the strengthening and expansion of the friendship and cooperation between Laos and Cambodia.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also wished Lao Ambassador Amphay Kindavong more success in his next mission. For his part, the outgoing Lao diplomat profoundly thanked Prime Minister Hun Sen and other Cambodian leaders as well as the Cambodian people for their support and cooperation for the success of his diplomatic mission in the Kingdom.

The ambassador has congratulated Cambodia for the rapid development and for the success in hosting the 13th ASEM Summit, and wish the Kingdom more success in holding the ASEAN chairmanship in 2022. In addition, he expressed his gratitude to the Cambodian government and people for their humanitarian assistance in cash, vaccines, medical materials, etc. to contribute to combating the COVID-19 pandemic in Laos.