Russian President 普京 held a closed-door meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on June 18 while attending the summit marking 35 years of ASEAN–Russia dialogue relations.
They exchanged frank and detailed views on deepening traditional friendship and expanding practical cooperation in multiple fields, setting a direction for future bilateral relations.
普京 described Cambodia as Russia’s “longstanding friendly partner” and pledged continued support in several fields.
He recalled Soviet assistance to Cambodia during difficult reconstruction after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime and the civil war, including education, health, communications and agriculture. He said bilateral trade grew about 2% last year but remained modest in scale, leaving significant trade and investment potential untapped, and that Russia was working to improve the quality and scope of bilateral trade.
Hun Manet responded that Russia has always been an “important and trustworthy partner” for Cambodia.
As the countries marked 70 years of diplomatic relations, Hun Manet said Cambodia deeply values its longstanding friendship with Russia. He said Cambodians would remember Soviet assistance during their hardest period and thanked Russia for its continuing contribution to Cambodia’s socioeconomic development.
He said Cambodia looks forward to deeper dialogue with Russia to take the partnership to a new level.
