AKP Phnom Penh, March 24, 2018 –Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, received here yesterday afternoon at the Peace Palace visiting Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Kentaro Sonoura.
According to the Cambodian Premier’s official Facebook page, H.E. Kentaro Sonoura’s visit was made when the two countries are celebrating the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
The advisor told Samdech Techo Hun Sen of his visit, saying that he attended a Seminar on Mekong-Japan Cooperation where new ideas on the strengthening and expansion of the relations between Japan and the Mekong countries as well as between Japan and ASEAN were raised.
H.E. Kentaro Sonoura thanked Cambodia for its support to Japan’s proactive contribution to peace and Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy.
H.E. Kentaro Sonoura also affirmed Japan’s support to the rule of law implementation, national unity and peace maintaining, and economic growth in Cambodia.
For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed thanks to Japan for its attention and support to the ASEAN integration through different mechanisms, including the Mekong-Japan framework, which contributes to minimising the development gap between the new and old ASEAN member countries.
If nothing changes, His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, will pay a state visit to Japan, another sign showing the good relations between the two countries, he added.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen requested Japan to consider assisting the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre based in Cambodia for regional and global training.
Regarding the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said all the nations in the region, including Indonesia, Australia, China, and India, have their own ideas and policies. “In this sense, we should gather all initiatives and look for the common areas that we can complement each other so that the policies of each country are more effective,” he underlined.
By Khan Sophirom
