Cambodia expressed its support for Singapore's Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2018 during the official visit of Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and both sides also signed an MoU on political consultations on Tuesday, October 17.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Balakrishnan and his counterpart Cambodian Senior Minister Prak Sokhonn. after a bilateral meeting. Both foreign ministers discussed and agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in many fields, including trade and investment, education and human resource development, tourism, culture, labor, air connectivity and healthcare.
The Ministers pondered the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement that was signed in May 2016 and come into effect next year to promote bilateral business and investments. The Ministers also exchanged views on regional developments, and emphasised the importance of upholding ASEAN centrality and unity.
Earlier, Dr Balakrishnan had called on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who welcomed the growing economic ties, and expressed appreciation for Singapore's support of Cambodia's capacity-building and human resource development.
The talks also focused on a wide-ranging discussion on developments in Cambodia, as well as regional and international issues, in the backdrop of fast-changing situation in the Korean peninsula.
Dr Balakrishnan, who was granted an audience with King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh in the morning, reaffirmed the warm and longstanding ties between Singapore and Cambodia, increasing economic and cultural links, tourism flows and growing people to people relations. Dr Balakrishnan also met Senior Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth over tea.
It may be recalled that a high-level exchange of visit by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in July 2010 strengthened the bilateral relations.
