Prime Minister Hun Sen (right) shakes hands with his Cuban counterpart Manuel Marrero Cruz at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on October 4. SPM
Cuba’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz led a senior delegation from his country on an official visit to Cambodia, arriving in the Kingdom on October 4 with plans to depart on October 6.
The visit came at the invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen following the prime minister’s recent stop in Cuba after attending the UN General Assembly in New York.
Hun Sen welcomed his Cuban counterpart at the Peace Palace for a meeting where the two prime ministers witnessed the signing of a number of documents that will expand bilateral cooperation in sports, education and culture as well as in other domains, according to Hun Sen’s Facebook post.
Marrero was also granted an audience at the Royal Palace by King Norodom Sihamoni. His itinerary also includes courtesy calls with Senate president Say Chhum and National Assembly president Heng Samrin.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said last week that Marrero will also lay wreaths at Independence Monument and at the Royal Memorial Statue of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.
“The visit of His Excellency Manuel Marrero Cruz will reaffirm the long-standing friendly relations between Cambodia and Cuba and underscore the need to further deepen and broaden cooperation for the greater benefit of the two countries and peoples,” the foreign affairs ministry stated.
Marrero’s visit to the Kingdom was announced shortly after Hun Sen returned from his visit to Cuba, during which several cooperation documents were signed in addition to those being inked on this visit.
Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post that the visit would further strengthen and deepen ties and cooperation between the two countries, which has been a tradition since the Cold War.
“This visit will further boost cooperation after Hun Sen’s recent official visit to Cuba achieved good results. We see it as a good diplomatic response, which shows their goodwill and the commitment of the two countries to strengthen and deepen ties and bolster solidarity between our two countries,” he said.
He added that the Cuban prime minister’s visit will take their diplomacy and ties to another level, one that goes past the traditional relationship they’ve had since the cold war that has been friendly but distant.
“We have seen very good hospitality from both sides which reflects the desire of the two sides to strengthen and expand the relationship and show solidarity,” he said.
He said Cambodia is implementing a policy of diplomatic diversification with new or renewed ties and outreach to all countries in every corner of the world.
