In a statement released on 02 Nov 2023, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced significant outcomes from the fifth meeting of the Cambodia-Korea Joint Commission (JC), further solidifying bilateral relations between the two nations.
The JC, co-chaired by Her Excellency TUOT Panha, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and His Excellency CHANG Ho-jin, First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), brought together key stakeholders to review progress in cooperation since the fourth JC meeting in 2018. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations across multiple domains, including politics, national defense, trade and investment, infrastructure, agriculture, health, culture, tourism, human resource development, people-to-people exchanges, among others.
On political cooperation, Cambodia and Korea expressed satisfaction with strengthened bilateral relations since the re-establishment of diplomatic ties in 1997. Both sides agreed to further upgrade their relations to reflect substantial cooperation between the two countries. They highlighted the importance of regular high-level exchanges, including the successful visit of H.E. KIM Jin Pyo, Speaker of the National Assembly of the ROK to Cambodia in September 2023.
Economic cooperation was another key focus area. Both sides noted a gradual post-pandemic recovery of trade between the two countries and expressed confidence that the full implementation of the Cambodia-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) and the Agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance (DTA) would further increase bilateral trade volumes. The ROK side agreed to enhance market access for Cambodian agricultural products, while both sides committed to increasing Korean investment in Cambodia’s financial sector.
Infrastructure cooperation was also a major highlight, with the Cambodian side valuing the ROK’s assistance in supporting various projects. Both sides recognized active development cooperation in the transport sector and agreed to accelerate the implementation of the “Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge” project.
Defense cooperation was another area where both countries strengthened their ties. The two sides agreed to step up bilateral cooperation under both bilateral and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) frameworks for international peace. The ROK side reaffirmed its commitment to providing training, scholarship, technical, and equipment assistance to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
People-to-people exchanges were also given significant attention. Both sides agreed to boost tourism cooperation by encouraging their citizens to visit each other’s countries and strengthened youth exchange programs, scholarships, training programs, and education-related projects.
The Cambodian side expressed high appreciation for the ROK government’s development assistance, which has significantly contributed to the Kingdom’s socio-economic development. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral cooperation under frameworks such as the United Nations, ASEAN-ROK, and Mekong-ROK Cooperation. They also exchanged views on regional issues of common concern, including the situation in the Korean Peninsula.
In conclusion, the fifth meeting of the Cambodia-Korea Joint Commission marked a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations. Through enhanced cooperation in various domains, both sides demonstrated their commitment to solidifying friendly relations and fostering peace and stability in the region.
- The two countries agreed to convene the 6th meeting of the Cambodia-Korea Joint Commission in the Republic of Korea on a mutually convenient date.
- Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral cooperation under frameworks such as the United Nations, ASEAN-ROK, and Mekong-ROK Cooperation.
- The Cambodian side expressed high appreciation for the ROK government’s development assistance, which has significantly contributed to the Kingdom’s socio-economic development.