New French Ambassador to Cambodia Jacques Pellet said during a 90-minute visit to The Phnom Penh Post newsroom on Wednesday evening that it was an honour to be back in the Kingdom. “I keep Cambodia close to my heart,” he told Post Media publisher and CEO Ly Tayseng.

“I am very honoured to return to Cambodia. We [France] are close to Cambodia. My first visit was in 1995, when I was a Cambodia desk officer in Paris. There were a lot of diplomatic missions between 1995 and 1998 during the peace agreement. “Twenty-five years later, I am back, and I am very impressed with Cambodia’s growth – there are so many young people and now many modern buildings. I will have to adapt to the new environment,” said Pellet.

A broad range of current issues – including regional ties, the role of journalists, France-Cambodia relations and French non-public sector contributions to the Kingdom – were touched upon during the courtesy call. Managing editor of The Phnom Penh Post Sam Rith was also present to welcome the ambassador. PHOTOS HONG MENEA