French foreign trade advisers held the European nation’s first Asean Forum in Phnom Penh last week to exchange views on the political and economic evolution in the region as well as France’s strategy in Asean, a French Embassy press release said.

The two-day event, which was held on June 6 and 7, was attended by more than 180 people, including CEOs and businesspeople based in one or several Asean countries, or who were interested in the region.

Some of the topics discussed at the event were business opportunities for French companies, strategies, current issues and future prospects.

The French ambassadors to the 10 Asean countries and representatives from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Ministry for the Economy and Finance, attended the event.

During the event, Thierry Mathou, director for Asia & Oceania at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, who has visited Cambodia twice since 2017, met with Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn to discuss bilateral relations between France and Cambodia.

“[The event demonstrates] the importance of the political and economic partnership between France and Cambodia and [is] aimed at strengthening it even further,” the press release said.