(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen in his capacity as the Acting Head of State received the Letter of Credence from Daouda Bitie, Ambassador of Burkina Faso, on Thursday (Sep. 4) at the Senate.

Samdech Techo warmly welcomed Burkina Faso’s first-ever ambassador to Cambodia and expressed hope that Ambassador Daouda Bitie would help further strengthen bilateral relations, following 15 years of formal diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Burkina Faso.

The ambassador thanked Samdech Techo for the great honour of being received and presenting his credentials. He expressed pride in serving in Cambodia and being Burkina Faso’s first ambassador to the country.

During the occasion, the ambassador shared remarks from the President of Burkina Faso made before his posting in Cambodia, highlighting that his assignment in Cambodia was a special opportunity to learn and gain experience from the country. He also emphasised that Cambodia and Burkina Faso share similar historical backgrounds, as both were under French colonial rule, which gives them certain common historical experiences.

Ambassador expressed personal interest in Samdech’s leadership experience in Cambodia, noting it as a valuable model for his work in the country.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed pleasure at the Ambassador’s remarks, acknowledging that the experiences of Cambodia and Burkina Faso are similar, particularly their shared history under French colonialism.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen shared his experiences in national leadership, noting that in the case of poorer countries, foreign aid can sometimes have negative effects if not carefully considered. He also emphasised that while foreign investment is important for Cambodia, domestic investment is even more critical, as foreign investors are encouraged to invest when they see strong local investment and initiative.

He highlighted that foreign advice, especially from some wealthy countries, is not always entirely correct, so it must be carefully considered in the context of Cambodia’s prior experiences. Sometimes, wealthy nations may have luck, but not necessarily better judgment than the country in question.

Regarding bilateral relations, the ambassador emphasised that both countries should strengthen cooperation in economic and trade sectors, noting Burkina Faso’s rich mineral resources as a potential area for collaboration with Cambodia. Defence cooperation and broader joint efforts, especially in international platforms, were also discussed.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen welcomed the Ambassador’s suggestions on strengthening these key areas and proposed that both countries establish agreements or memoranda of understanding to clearly outline the points of cooperation and development in bilateral relations.

Finally, Samdech Techo Hun Sen wished Ambassador Daouda Bitie success in fulfilling his diplomatic mission in Cambodia.
=FRESH NEWS