Russian President Vladimir Putin said Cambodia is a longstanding friend and partner during bilateral talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Kazan, Russia, on the evening of June 18. Hun Manet was attending the June 17–18, 2026 summit marking the 35th anniversary of ASEAN–Russia relations.
Putin said this year marks 70 years of Russia–Cambodia diplomatic relations. He praised the continued development of bilateral ties and stressed that Russia continues to give high priority to developing cooperation with Cambodia.
Hun Manet responded that over the past seven decades Cambodia has highly valued traditional friendship and longstanding cooperation with Russia, based on political trust, mutual support and respect, and shared interests.
Hun Manet thanked the former Soviet Union for its assistance and support during Cambodia’s difficult period and the Russian Federation for continuing to contribute to Cambodia’s socioeconomic development. He expressed satisfaction with progress in relations across all fields and pledged to further deepen and expand cooperation.
The leaders discussed directions and initiatives for strengthening ties and cooperation in politics, trade and investment, energy, agriculture, security and defense, and people-to-people connections, particularly education and training, health, tourism and culture.
They stressed the importance of continued high-level visits and exchanges through legislative, executive and party channels. Hun Manet also asked Putin to support Cambodia’s proposal for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
By: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
