Cambodian National Assembly (NA) president Khuon Sudary (right) meets a delegation from the French-speaking Parliamentary Assembly (APF) in Paris, France, on March 5. national assembly
National Assembly (NA) president Khuon Sudary met with Bruno Fuchs, delegate of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) on March 5, during her official visit to France to attend the Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament.
Sudary’s trip is scheduled to run from March 2-11.
During the meeting, she said Cambodia supports the 2023-2023 APF Strategic Framework, which aims to strengthen diplomacy, sovereignty, cooperation and capacity building, as well as linking young leaders and promoting legal harmonisation.
The NA president mentioned the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation under the APF framework, which promotes parliamentary diplomacy for peace and sustainable development, as well as gender equality and the empowerment of women. The framework will also enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, according to a social media post by the NA president.
“Cambodia is one of the most important countries in Southeast Asia when it comes to the promotion of the APF, as well as parliamentary diplomacy, in the common interest of the people,” Sudary was quoted as saying.
“The Kingdom is ready to serve as a bridge which will connect the culture and people of all French-speaking countries. We are ready to host the 2026 Francophonie Summit, which will provide an opportunity to deepen cultural, economic and diplomatic cooperation,” she added.
Foss said the APF supports Cambodia’s candidacy as APF summit host.
“Although Cambodia, France and many other French-speaking nations are far apart, the APF has always been close. We have always maintained strong relations with French-speaking countries, whether small or large, and serve as a way for our members to address common challenges,” he added.
In 2002, the APF established a network that considers women’s issues. It has prepared a number of examples of good governance which members can study and apply, in the context of their respective countries.
“The APF and Cambodia could work more closely on the rule of law. Another possibility is the establishment of a common framework related to similar challenges, such as women’s issues, climate change, food waste and human resource training in the health sector,” added Foss.
Sudary suggested that the APF provide further support to the health sector in Cambodia through institutional and human resource capacity building, as well as reforms, to assist the implementation of the Kingdom’s universal health coverage (UHC) plan.
She also requested support to promote the good governance and transparency of public services, as well as for the development of a “digital parliament” which will meet Cambodia’s future needs, in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0.
The AFP has 83 members, of which 17 are parliamentary observers.
