Phnom Penh, 11 January 2023 (TDI): Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn received Stefan Messerer, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, to Cambodia.
Both sides noted with satisfaction the excellent friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and Germany. They also reflected on vigorous trade activities and frequent high-level exchanges.
Furthermore, Prak Sokhonn highly appreciated the remarkable development in bilateral relations, particularly in 2022. This was marked by the conclusion by both Foreign Ministries of the Joint Declaration of Intent to establish the Bilateral Consultations.
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These developments paved the way for Sakhonn’s official visit to Germany in February. This was the first visit by a Cambodian Foreign Minister in the last 27 years.
Germany’s Assistance
Prak Sokhonn thanked Germany’s Government and People for their assistance in helping the Southeast Asian country in its fight against COVID-19.
Moreover, the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged supporting Cambodia’s development in various sectors. These include education, culture, poverty reduction, energy, mine clearance, good governance, and health.
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In this regard, he also noted the healthy bilateral trade exchange. It was also underlined that Germany stands first among the EU countries and expressed hope for more investments from the country.
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Likewise, Prak Sokhonn and Ambassador Stefan Messerer also exchanged views on regional and international developments.
The Deputy Prime Minister briefed the Envoy on the complexity of the Myanmar crisis and Cambodia’s endeavors to help the country to return to normalcy.
In addition, the Ambassador commended Cambodia for “excellent jobs” as the ASEAN Chair 2022 and for successfully organizing the ASEAN Summits and Related Summits.
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Germany-Cambodia Relations
Germany and Cambodia have a long history of diplomatic relations, with Germany officially recognizing the Southeast Asian country as a sovereign state in 1953.
In the years since, the two countries have cooperated on a range of issues, including development aid, trade, and cultural exchange.
Germany is one of the largest donors of development aid to Cambodia and has supported the country in areas such as education, health care, and infrastructure development.
Germany is also a significant trading partner for Cambodia, with bilateral trade between the two countries totaling over 500 million euros in 2019.
Additionally, Germany has also been actively engaged in the promotion of human rights and good governance in Cambodia through its development aid programs, as well as through multilateral initiatives.
Overall, despite some recent challenges, the relations between Cambodia and Germany are generally considered to be friendly and cooperative.
