Foreign minister Sok Chenda Sophea met with his kiwi counterpart Winston Peters on February 12. MFAIC
Foreign minister Sok Chenda Sophea praised the 65-year-long relationship between Cambodia and New Zealand, highlighting the latter’s significant role in the Kingdom’s peace process and socio-economic development.
The minister’s appreciation was conveyed during a telephone conversation with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peterson on February 12, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation the next day.
During the call, Chenda Sophea expressed high regard for New Zealand’s crucial role in aiding the peace process and providing continuous development assistance, especially in the fields of human resource development, agriculture and demining.
“During the UNTAC [UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia] period, New Zealand deployed approximately 100 military personnel to the peacekeeping mission in Cambodia. The Kingdom has now become a dispatching state, sending over 9,000 personnel to participate in UN peacekeeping operations abroad,” he emphasised.
He also extended an invitation to Peters to visit Cambodia at his convenience.
Both foreign ministers expressed satisfaction with the longstanding relations between their respective nations.
According to the ministry, this year marks the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, established in 1959.
It added that the ministries of both countries are planning to conduct their third consultations in New Zealand at a mutually suitable time.
Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, viewed it as a positive indication of the government’s diplomatic diversification.
He noted that New Zealand is keen to strengthen its bond with Cambodia, contributing to the existing good relations and stability between the two nations.
“The attitude of New Zealand’s diplomatic ties with Cambodia is not dissimilar to that of Australia, as well as some Western countries. When relations between the West and Cambodia cool, so too does the cooperation between New Zealand and Cambodia,” he stated.
Phea noted that Cambodia’s diplomatic cooperation with European countries have significantly improved as the government has consistently advocated for stronger ties with Western democracies, including New Zealand.
He highlighted that New Zealand possesses the potential to attract investment to Cambodia, underscoring that such financing from the West carries both economic and diplomatic significance.
Phea added that New Zealand is a key development donor, particularly in the area of human resource training.
On the same day, Chenda Sophea also met with non-resident Hungarian ambassador to Cambodia Tibor Baloghdi.
During the meeting, the minister expressed satisfaction with the recent progress in Cambodia-Hungary bilateral relations, despite emerging regional and global challenges.
He noted frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries and interactions through bilateral mechanisms such as the Joint Economic Committee and Bilateral Consultations, as well as mutual support in the international arena.
He congratulated Hungary on its upcoming presidency of the EU in the second half of 2024 and expressed gratitude for its continued support of Cambodia-EU cooperation across all fields.
Chenda Sophea and Baloghdi mutually reaffirmed their dedication to preserving their strong existing relationship and to mutual support, as per the ministry.
