Samdech Thipadei HUN Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, concluded a two-day official visit to the Republic of Singapore from June 18-19, 2024, with both sides reaffirming strong commitment to further deepen the long-standing relations and close cooperation in all fields.
The visit was marked by fruitful outcomes, as Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister paid courtesy calls on His Excellency Tharman SHANMUGARATNAM, President of the Republic of Singapore, prior to his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence WONG. The discussions were enriching and covered cooperation in several areas, including political-security, defense, trade and investment, finance, food and energy security, climate change, tourism, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), digitalization and people-to-people exchange.
The two Prime Ministers recalled the friendship between His Majesty the Late-King-Father of Cambodia and the Late-Prime Minister LEE Kuan Yew of Singapore, as both nations look forward to the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Cambodia-Singapore diplomatic relations next year. They also agreed to encourage early convening of the 2nd Political Consultation between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.
On fostering trade and investment, Samdech Thipadei HUN Manet and Prime Minister Lawrence WONG highlighted the fact that Singapore is among the largest investors in Cambodia and the complementary nature of the two economies. The two Prime Ministers agreed to encourage relevant public and private entities of both countries to jointly identify potential areas for win-win cooperation, starting with food production and supplies.
On people-to-people exchanges, Samdech Thipadei HUN Manet and Prime Minister Lawrence WONG expressed satisfaction with the increase of direct flights to 50 per week and the growing number of travelers between Cambodia and Singapore. They share the view that encouraging tourism flow, including those from third countries is another area to be intensified.
On energy and climate change, the two Prime Ministers applauded the fruitful outcome of the first working group meeting, co-chaired by the Energy Ministers of Cambodia, Singapore, and the Lao PDR on May 29, 2024, to facilitate cross-border electricity trade. They shared resolve to leverage the success of this project to drive the development of the ASEAN Power Grid.
The two Prime Ministers emphasized the growing importance of ICT and digital technology cooperation. They jointly witnessed and applauded the official launch of the Financial Transparency Corridor initiative by the National Bank of Cambodia and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which aims to establish supporting digital infrastructures to facilitate trade and financial access for SMEs in Cambodia and in Singapore.
The visit also saw Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister addressing the Cambodia-Singapore Business Forum, during which he encouraged some 500 participants to explore business opportunities in Cambodia and win-win joint investments in various areas. He visited the Nanyang Polytechnic and Centre of Innovation for Electronics & Internet of Things, and the Keppel’s Infrastructure@Changi building.
Significance of the Visit
The visit highlights Cambodia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with key partners in the region. The agreements reached between the two Prime Ministers demonstrate the strong cooperation between Cambodia and Singapore on various issues, including trade, investment, energy, climate change, and ICT. The visit also underscores the importance of people-to-people exchanges and tourism flow between the two countries.
The visit is seen as a significant step towards enhancing Cambodia’s role in regional and international affairs. As ASEAN centrality remains crucial for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, Cambodia and Singapore’s cooperation on key issues will contribute to maintaining the unity and strength of the organization.
In conclusion, Samdech Thipadei HUN Manet’s visit to the Republic of Singapore marks a significant milestone in the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. The agreements reached during the visit demonstrate the strong commitment of both sides to cooperate on various issues and enhance people-to-people exchanges and tourism flow between Cambodia and Singapore.