During a recent meeting with the newly appointed ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen discussed the strengthening of economic and human resource development ties between the two countries.

The meeting between Hun Sen and ambassador Martin Vavra was held at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on June 14.

“Samdech Techo Hun Sen asked the ambassador to promote cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade, investment and human resource development,” Hun Sen’s Facebook post said.

During the meeting, Vavra told Hun Sen that his current mission to Cambodia is to strengthen and develop the relationship between the two countries.

“The ambassador said the Czech Republic is passionate about Cambodia. On this basis, he promised Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen that he would work to develop cooperation in politics, economics, trade and investment,” the post said.

“Martin Vavra also informed Samdech Techo Hun Sen that the Czech Republic will also help Cambodia in human resource development,” the Facebook post said.

Hun Sen thanked the Czech people and government for their assistance to Cambodia, the post said.

The Czech Republic has written off a large amount of the Kingdom’s debt while the remaining debt has been used to assist Cambodia with the construction of schools and the development of the social sector, noted the Facebook post.

The prime minister welcomed and congratulated Martin Vavra on his appointment as the ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cambodia.

Kin Phea, director of the Royal Academy of Cambodia’s International Relations Institute, told The Post on June 14 that cooperation in areas such as trade, economy or tourism is normally encouraged during such meetings. Phea welcomed the commitment, saying the trade volume between Cambodia and the Czech Republic has been small.

“We need to push for more in all areas so that the relationship can be deepened and more important,” he said.

In 2019, Hun Sen visited the Czech Republic to further strengthen ties.

The Czech government has listed Cambodia as one of six priority countries for development partners and has provided many scholarships to Cambodian students over the years. In the 2021-2022 academic year, the country provided 17 postgraduate scholarships in English to Cambodian students.

Cambodia and the Czech Republic – then Czechoslovakia – established diplomatic relations in 1956 under then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk. This year marks the 65th anniversary since the establishment of Czech-Cambodian diplomatic relations.