Phnom Penh (FN), May 21 – Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Devyani Uttam Khobragade thanked Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen for proposing the upcoming direct flights from India to Cambodia.

Indian ambassador spoke during a courtesy call on Samdech Techo on 20 May 2024 at the Senate.

The ambassador believed that this endeavour would enhance the relations between two nations, especially people-to-people ties, boost economic and trade relations.

Samdech Techo expressed his pleasure to meet with the Indian ambassador after their meeting in 2021, when he was the Prime Minister. He recalled that during the previous meeting, both sides discussed the preparation of the visit of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni to India on the occasion of the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They also discussed the pioneering visit of Samdech Thipadei when he was the commander-in-chief of the Army.

The Senate President continued that he was monitoring the election process in India that is also a democratic country. He praised the smooth progress of the elections, marking a great success for one of the largest democracies in the world.

For her part, Ambassador Devyani Uttam Khobragade thanked Samdech Techo for allowing her and her delegations to pay a courtesy call. She also congratulated Samdech Techo on his election as Senate President. She also expressed her satisfaction and admiration for Samdech Techo's visionary leadership in passing power to the next generation.

Taking this occasion, the ambassador also expressed satisfaction with the new Royal Government under the leadership of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. However, she still regarded Samdech Techo as a guiding force in Cambodia's journey towards democracy and development. She thanked the Cambodian Foreign Ministry and other stakeholders for organizing the successful first visit of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni to India.

Indian ambassador mentioned that in over 60 years of relations, the visit of the Cambodian King to India was a significant event, and she thanked Samdech Techo for initiating this visit as well as the visit of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet when he was the commander-in-chief of the Army.

She also expressed gratitude for Samdech Techo's congratulations on the election in India and hoped that the new Indian government would continue to foster good relations with Cambodia. She thanked Cambodia for recognizing India as a vital economic partner, noting India's status as the third most economically developed country in the world. She hoped that political, economic, and security ties would be further strengthened, and that the new Indian prime minister and Cambodian prime minister would have the opportunity to meet this year.

Ambassador Khobragade invited Samdech Techo to visit India in his capacity as Senate President, assuring him of a warm welcome. She underlined the long-standing relations between the two countries, which endured even during the COVID19 outbreak. She suggested that Cambodia view India as a reliable partner and expressed her pleasure that Cambodia is an old friend and balanced partner in the region's geopolitical competition.

She praised Samdech Techo's role in enhancing Cambodian-Indian relations, particularly when he chaired the ASEAN Summit in the past.

In this sense, Samdech Techo congratulated India on organizing the Cambodian King's visit, considering it a historic event in Cambodian-Indian relations. He recalled that in 1979, after Cambodia was liberated from the Pol Pot regime, India was the only democratic country that recognised Cambodia.

He added that his recent visit to India demonstrated his acceptance of Cambodia's realities. He also highlighted Cambodia's role in bringing India into ASEAN, co-chairing the 2012 ASEAN-India Anniversary. He supported India's progress and its potential role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Samdech Techo also thanked India for its contributions to human resource training, including scholarships for Cambodian officials, and for co-chairing the ICC Preah Vihear, which has helped preserve Cambodia's cultural heritage. He celebrated the establishment of the direct flights between the two capitals.

Lastly, Samdech Techo wished the ambassador good health and continued success.
=FRESH NEWS