Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 22 - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey pledged to promote Cambodia-Turkey trade worth to US$1 billion, speaking in the bilateral meeting held on Sunday in Turkey.

The President pledged to promote businesses and invest on Cambodia's prioritized sectors, particularly infrastructure, and promote tourism through direct flights.

Apart from signing eight agreements on culture, education, sport, agriculture, tourism, investment, water resources, and mine action, Cambodian Prime Minister stated that he will purchase land in Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Turkey in 2019 to open Cambodian Embassy, as Turkey already had her Embassy in Phnom Penh since 2013.

The two also wish to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Cambodia-Turkey official diplomacy in 2019 by creating activities for people-to-people exchanges.

As the ASEAN Mine Action Center is based in Cambodia, the President said that Turkey will provide assistance to the Center as well as support ASEAN.

The two also exchanged views on bilateral and multilateral issues, regional and international issues, in particular obstructing transnational crimes and countering terrorism; and building trust and reciprocal assistance for mutual benefits.

The President welcomed the presence of Prime Minister Hun Sen and considered this trip to be the first ever official visit to the Republic of Turkey in the history of Cambodian leaders.

Prime Minister urged the President to increase quota of scholarships for Cambodian students and to purchase Cambodian rice and mangoes from Cambodian farmers; he also took the opportunity to invite the President to visit Cambodia at his conveniences.
=FRESH NEWS