Phnom Penh (FN), May. 17 – Vincent Éblé, Senator of the Seine-et-Marne region and Chairman of the France-Cambodia Friendship Group, expressed his admiration for Cambodia's peace-building efforts, saying that such peace is invaluable. The French senator also praised Cambodia's independence and non-alignment, noting its stance on opposing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen received a courtesy call by Senator of the Seine-et-Marne region Vincent Eble on Friday (May. 17) at the Senate.

The French senator expressed his pleasure in visiting Cambodia, mentioning that he had made six official visits and ten private trips to Cambodia but had never met Samdech Techo. Vincent Éblé expressed his delight at finally having the opportunity to meet Samdech Techo during his presidency of the Senate.

Vincent Éblé highlighted the long history of relations between Cambodia and France, characterised by reciprocal visits and consultations between the leaders of the two countries. He noted that Samdech Techo Hun Sen's visit to Paris early last year was highly beneficial.

Vincent Éblé has served as chair of the Cambodia-France Inter-parliamentary group since 2012 and has visited Cambodia ten times. He mentioned his familiarity with the Cambodian community in France and his appreciation for Cambodian cultural traditions, which have strengthened his relationship with Cambodia.

The French senator expressed his pleasure at the visit, noting that he had observed French businessmen, investors, and the French economic community in Cambodia, including institutions like Brad Bank, tourism companies, health sector firms, and hotels. He particularly mentioned the construction of Bak Kheng Water Treatment Plant. Vincent Éblé remarked that he envied Cambodia's access to the Mekong River, as France typically has to rely on groundwater.

He also congratulated and thanked Samdech Techo Hun Sen for encouraging many French companies to invest in Cambodia. Vincent Éblé observed significant changes in Phnom Penh and appreciated efforts to balance the preservation of national heritage, including old buildings, with the construction of modern structures.

Vincent Éblé expressed his pleasure at the growing cultural cooperation with Cambodia, noting that the Cambodian King had attended a recent UNESCO meeting in Paris. He highlighted France's assistance in maintaining ancient temples, recovering smuggled statues, and organizing exhibitions to promote Cambodia's cultural heritage.

The French senator thanked Samdech Techo for his detailed discussions on various topics. Vincent Éblé also praised Samdech Techo for leading Cambodia from conflict to development and expressed pride in France's contributions to Cambodia's peace and prosperity. He underlined that peace is essential for all countries to develop and for people to live in harmony.

He also noted that Cambodia is independent in its decision-making, particularly regarding its stance on the Ukraine issue, making it the only country in the region with such an open-minded attitude towards France.

Regarding Cambodia's rich heritage, Vincent Éblé suggested encouraging an influx of tourists while organizing their visits to allow longer stays, similar to a museum experience. He mentioned discussions with the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts about building a museum near the Koh Ker temple to enhance the tourist experience.

Vincent Éblé also addressed Cambodia's candidacy to host the Francophonie Summit in 2026, stating that currently, there are no other candidates. He mentioned that a meeting in France later this year will decide on Cambodia's candidacy for hosting the summit. He confirmed that he and the French government support Cambodia's bid to host the Francophonie Summit in 2026.

For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen welcomed the visiting delegation to Cambodia and expressed his hope that the visit would further strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between France and Cambodia.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen was pleased to hear that Vincent Éblé had visited Cambodia ten times. He expressed his satisfaction with the strong connection between France and Cambodia, particularly France's role in supporting peace in Cambodia by assisting in the meeting between himself and the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, which led to the Paris Agreement.

Samdech Techo also thanked France for its investment in the Bak Kheng Water Treatment Plant. He noted that last year, Cambodia faced a water shortage, especially in the Takhmao area of Kandal province. French technicians, along with Vinci company, established a network at the bottom of the river to supply water not only to Phnom Penh but also to the suburbs.

As President of the Senate of Cambodia, Samdech Techo expressed his happiness with the ongoing work between Cambodia and France. He highlighted his smooth relationship with French leadership over the years, which has led to significant economic growth and participation by many French companies. He urged the French senator to encourage more French investors to explore opportunities in various fields in Cambodia.

Samdech Techo addressed the issue of heritage preservation, particularly in the realm of culture. He noted Cambodia's continued usage of the French language and urged France to consider re-establishing the French language center, which had previously faced opposition from certain French political factions that did not recognise the government in Phnom Penh at the time. Samdech Techo highlighted Cambodia's significant Francophone presence in Southeast Asia, with Cambodia, Viet Nam, Laos, and Thailand being Francophone countries. He expressed pride in the fact that 37 per cent of government officials during his administration are fluent French speakers.

Samdech Techo underlined that France has significantly contributed to preserving Cambodia's cultural heritage, especially as a co-chair with Japan in the ICC Angkor. This collaboration has helped in the recognition of Sambor Prei Kuk temple as a heritage site.

Regarding construction, Samdech Techo underlined the need to balance preserving old buildings and constructing new ones. He advocated for maintaining old buildings as heritage properties, ensuring their structural integrity to prevent any harm. He cited the Senate, built during late King Father Norodom Sihanouk's time as head of state, as an example of an old building that has been well-preserved. Efforts are being made to maintain old buildings in Phnom Penh and the provinces while also accommodating new construction.

Samdech Techo also described the leadership transition from the old to the new generation. He explained that despite strong electoral support, he made sacrifices and changes to ensure long-term stability. He expressed satisfaction with the smooth transition, noting that the economy has continued to grow. Last year's economic growth was approximately 5.6 per cent, and it is expected to increase to 6 per cent this year. Inflation and the exchange rate have stabilised, and exports have risen.
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