Phnom penh: Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, held a meeting with Hon. Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, Speaker of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This meeting marks a milestone in the growing parliamentary relations between Cambodia and Saudi Arabia.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Samdech Khuon Sudary emphasized the significance of this official visit as it builds upon the visit of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate, to Saudi Arabia in December of the previous year. She expressed appreciation for the strong and friendly relations between the two countries, highlighting the establishment of diplomatic ties on October 19, 2010, and the prospect of Saudi Arabia opening an embassy in Phnom Penh.
Samdech recalled an important recent meeting between the Prime Ministers of both nations during the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in 2023. She also expressed satisfaction with the mutual support for each other’s candidacies within the United Nations system, including Cambodia’s bid for the Peacebuilding Commission’s Organisational Committee and ECOSOC, and Saudi Arabia’s candidacy for ECOSOC.
She shared insights into Cambodia’s focus on national development, underscored by the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1, prioritizing areas such as human capital, infrastructure, and technology. Stressing internal stability and external relations, she highlighted Cambodia’s commitment to peace and prosperity following its tragic past.
Samdech noted Cambodia’s strength in food security and Saudi Arabia’s expertise in energy security, expressing optimism about the signed Memoranda of Understanding aimed at enhancing trade, investment, tourism, and education. Addressing Thai-Cambodian border tensions, she emphasized peaceful resolution through bilateral mechanisms and legal solutions through the International Court of Justice for complex issues.
Hon. Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh expressed gratitude for the warm reception and outlined the visit’s purpose to open new opportunities for bilateral trade and investment. He highlighted the importance of direct flights between the two countries to bolster tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
He extended an invitation to Samdech for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, which she accepted, affirming mutual respect and cooperation. Both leaders underscored the value of strengthening people-to-people ties as the foundation of their bilateral relationship.