Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 15 – On the margin of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels from 12-14 December 2022, Cambodian foreign minister Prak Sokhonn, had several bilateral meetings with Jutta Urpilainen, European commissioner for international partnerships, Josep Borrell Fontelles, high representative of the European Union (EU) for foreign affairs and security policy/vice president of the European Commission, and Tanja Fajon, deputy prime minister, minister for foreign affairs of Slovenia.

"During the meeting, Prak Sokonn and Jutta Urpilainen also exchanged views on many topics touching on regional and international issues of common concerns," according to the outcomes seen by Fresh News on Thursday (Dec 15).

"Borrell informed that the EU is indeed interested in boosting and strengthening bilateral relations between Cambodia-EU to a new height with the support of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. Borrell congratulated Cambodia on the preparation for graduation from LDCs which will contribute to the expansion of Cambodia-EU trade relations. In response, Prak Sokhonn expressed his pleasure on the subsequent progress of Cambodian-EU bilateral cooperation and underlined Cambodia's significant improvement in democracy. The recent communal election that took place in early June this year was widely acknowledged as free and fair with 80% turnout rate and the contest by 17 political parties. Prak Sokhonn also invited the EU to send observers to monitor the election process in Cambodia in 2023".

"Tanja Fajon and Prak Sokhonn agreed to further boost Cambodia-Slovenia bilateral relations, and to achieve this goal, the two countries agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs at director general level. Both sides hope that the meeting between both parties can be held in March 2023 in preparation for the visit of Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen to Slovenia at the invitation of the prime minister of Slovenia".

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=FRESH NEWS