Cambodia and India have exchanged four signed documents associated with health, technology, biodiversity conservation and preservation of ancient buildings. Cambodia also pushed for increased cooperation on mine clearance to help Cambodia reach its goal of “A Mine-Free Cambodia by 2025”.
According to a November 12 press release, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankha presided over the exchange ceremony of the following four signed documents.
The documents included a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Technology of Cambodia and the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur for digitalisation of Cambodian heritage sites.
A second MoU is between the Ministry of Environment and the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes on Cooperation in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Wildlife Management Recovery Strategy of Tiger and its Habitat.
A third is between the Ministry of Health and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on cooperation in the fields of health and medicine
There is also a financing agreement between the two governments for the conservation and preservation of Wat Raja Bo Pagoda paintings in Siem Reap.
The press release said that the two leaders touched on the longstanding friendship between the two nations.
“India was the first democratic country to recognise Cambodia after the liberation of the country. My first visit to India in 1981 opened a new page in Cambodia-India relations,” the press release quoted Hun Sen as saying.
Dhankha appreciated Hun Sen’s role in lifting bilateral ties to new heights.
“India is looking forward to the State Visit by His Majesty the King of Cambodia to India next year and the upcoming visit this year by General Hun Manet, deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and commander of the Royal Cambodian Army with a view to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Cambodia-India Diplomatic Relations and to further strengthen bilateral ties,” the press release quoted Jagdeep Dhankha as saying.
The press release added that the two leaders discussed the strengthening of the relationship. Hun Sen noted with pleasure the increasing volume of bilateral trade and encouraged both sides to explore the possibility of further increasing it.
“He also pushed for increased cooperation on mine clearance to help Cambodia reach its goal of ‘A Mine-Free Cambodia by 2025’. He thanked the Indian government for providing assistance on human resource development, ancient temple conservation, and water resource development for agriculture,” added the press release.
