AKP Phnom Penh, January 31, 2025 —

H.E. PRAK Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and H.E. Dominic Williams, United Kingdom Ambassador to Cambodia, exchanged views on advancing Cambodia-UK ccoperation across multiple sectors, during the latter's courtesy call on Jan. 30, 2025.

According to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation AKP received this morning, H.E. PRAK Sokhonn and Ambassador Williams were pleased with the growing ties and the successful 2nd Bilateral Political Consultations held in London in November 2024, which has encouraged high-level exchanges. H.E. PRAK Sokhonn looked forward to meeting his UK counterpart in the near future.

On trade and investment, H.E.  PRAK Sokhonn welcomed the successful convening of the Joint Trade and Investment Forum (JTIF) in November 2024 in Phnom Penh and acknowledged the importance of Cambodia's inclusion in the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) for economic growth. He expressed appreciation for the UK's continued support, including the decision to extend Cambodia's benefits under the scheme for an additional three years post-LDC graduation until 2032, to help ensure smooth economic transition.

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and H.E. Ambassador touched on fostering commercial ties through British investments, including the development of Cambodia's first Green Special Economic Zone and projects such as the Techo International Airpen by the British firm Foster + Partners. H.E. PRAK Sokhonn also encouraged more British investments in Cambodia.

Both the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ambassador also applauded the increasing number of British visitors to Cambodia and agreed to explore ways to expand tourism cooperation.

On defence, they noted with satisfaction the growing cooperation, manifested by the UK Royal Navy Ship port calls in 2023 and 2024. H.E. PRAK Sokhonn welcomed future UK naval visits and thanked the UK for providing training opportunities for Cambodian officers and urged for more scholarships for Cambodian students.

On development cooperation, H.E. PRAK Sokhonn expressed gratitude for the UK's invaluable support for Cambodia's socio-economic development, including in education, healthcare, and demining. He welcomed the opening of the first British university (De Montfort University) in Cambodia and called for enhanced educational exchanges and technical training programmes.

H.E. PRAK Sokhonn and Ambassador Williams also exchanged views on some regional and international issues of common interests.

AKP