PHNOM PENH, Feb 17 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia and Singapore vowed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era for mutual benefits, both sides said, in separate statements released late yesterday.
The commitment was made while Singaporean Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, paid a two-day visit to Cambodia, and called on Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, yesterday.
“They reaffirmed the warm and longstanding ties between Singapore and Cambodia, and committed to further strengthening bilateral cooperation, as both countries work towards post-COVID-19 recovery,” Singapore’s foreign ministry said, in a statement.
Balakrishnan congratulated Hun Sen on Cambodia’s successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years, while Hun Sen welcomed the growing economic linkages and more Singapore investments, particularly in infrastructure and cold-chain logistics, the statement said.
On Tuesday, Balakrishnan also held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, discussing ways to advance bilateral cooperation in multifaceted areas, Cambodia’s foreign ministry said, in a separate statement.
With respect to trade and investment, the two sides noted with satisfaction the positive and growing two-way trade, despite challenges posed by COVID-19, the statement said.
According to the statement, Sokhonn said, Singapore’s investment ranked fourth in the investment flow to Cambodia in 2021, and encouraged more Singapore’s investment, especially in the areas of fintech, innovation, digital and green economic and agro-industries.
The statement added that, they were delighted to note that, there are regular flights in operation between Cambodia and Singapore, due to the high percentage of vaccinated population in the two countries and the effective control of COVID-19.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening security and defence cooperation, through exchanging visits by high-ranking military and police officials, it said.– NNN-AKP
