Prime Minister Hun Sen encouraged the competent authorities of both Cambodia and East Timor to continue to effectively implement the three documents that both countries had signed in order to boost economic cooperation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The ministry said the three documents are a memorandum of understanding on economic, commercial and technical Cooperation, an agreement on technical and economic cooperation, and a memorandum of agreement on cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce of both countries.

Hun Sen met with President Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta of East Timor on October 20 during the latter’s visit to Cambodia from October 19-21. The visit came as the two countries celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Hun Sen and Ramos-Horta said the agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports was another step forward in strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries. The agreement was signed during Hun Sen’s official visit to East Timor in 2016.

According to the ministry, East Timor’s president expressed interest in Hun Sen’s call for more East Timor investors in Cambodia, especially in milling rice for export to East Timor to meet their domestic demand.

Ramos-Horta wrapped up his visit on October 21 after two new cooperation documents were signed: An air services agreement and a memorandum of understanding on the rice trade between the two countries.

East Timor also officially thanked Cambodia for donating Covid-19 vaccines and other medical equipment as well as Cambodia’s strong support for their membership in ASEAN.