The US government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has resumed the provision of development assistance of $18 million to Cambodia, following the formation of the new government after the July national election.

The commitment was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in a statement about the outcome of a meeting between Prime Minister Hun Manet and US acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland, on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, the US on September 22.

The ministry said that during the meeting both sides touched on the deportation of Cambodian citizens who committed crimes in the US, with Nuland encouraging Cambodia to accelerate the process.

In response, Manet told Nuland that the Cambodian authorities will revise its procedures to make the deportation process faster and more effective.

“Prime Minister Hun Manet requested that the US pay special attention to the mater, especially those who have health problems,” the ministry said, adding that Nuland had agreed to the request.

According to the ministry, Nuland offered a warm welcome to Manet as he arrived in New York for the UNGA and congratulated him on his recent election as prime minister, under the new mandate.

It added that Nuland had noted that the US welcomed the opportunity to expand cooperation between the two countries, with both sides discussing ways to strengthen their ties and take their cooperation to another level.