Foreign Minister calls on Cambodian Prime Minister

Dhaka 16 July 2022:

            Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen paid a courtesy call on the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh yesterday. They expressed satisfaction at the existing bilateral relations and determination to further strengthen the relations in the days ahead. While congratulating the Cambodian leader for being the Chair of ASEAN for 2022, Dr. Momen extended an invitation to him for a visit to Bangladesh next year on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

 The Cambodian Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh for successfully implementing the challenging Padma Multipurpose Bridge project by using own resources. He termed the bridge as a symbol of pride for the developing countries like Cambodia as well. Dr. Momen sought the Cambodian leader’s support as the current Chair of ASEAN for expediting the repatriation of the stranded Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar. He also requested for Cambodian support in favour of Bangladesh candidacy for Sectoral Dialogue Partnership. The Cambodian leader conveyed his best regards and greetings to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina describing her as a ‘respected elder sister’.

Following the Momen-Hun Sen meeting, Bangladesh-Cambodia bilateral talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Phnom Penh yesterday. Dr. Momen and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn led the respective delegations. The two Foreign Ministers reviewed the important aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries. The two Foreign Ministers reiterated their keenness for further strengthening the existing bilateral relations by adding further substances to it.

Following the bilateral talks, an MoU signed between the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh and the National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations of Cambodia yesterday in presence of Dr. Momen and his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn.

Later in the evening, Foreign Minister met the Bangladeshi expatriates in Cambodia and urged them to contribute their experience and expertise for the continued development and progress of the country.