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Prime Minister Hun Manet (rights) and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shake hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, held in Indonesia in September 2023. Photo supplied
After taking on the role as prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hun Manet first travelled to China for a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jingping. He then travelled to Vietnam as the second country. Hun Manet also travelled to Thailand, France, and Malaysia for meetings with the presidents and prime ministers of those nations. As the prime minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet ought to visit more significant nations, particularly South Korea.
Hun Manet’s visit to South Korea is crucial because the country employs a large number of Cambodian migrant workers. A significant quantity of money was brought home by Cambodian labourers, and South Korea is among the nations that has contributed the most to Cambodia’s social progress and economic growth.
The prime minister of Cambodia ought to pay a visit to South Korea in order to bolster the positive ties between the two countries and entice additional Korean investment into Cambodia.
The decades-long relationship between South Korea and Cambodia is marked by respect for one another, cooperation, and common economic interests. Over the years, the two countries’ diplomatic relations have grown stronger because of high-level visits, cultural exchanges, and strong trade agreements.
South Korea has been Cambodia’s principal development partner, offering vital support in a number of areas, including infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Additionally, the two nations have worked closely together on regional and global concerns, supporting one another in areas of shared concern.
Hun Manet’s dedication to modernization, economic expansion, and social stability characterizes his leadership style. He has led programs to improve commercial ties, modernize infrastructure, and draw international capital to Cambodia. The nation has seen advancements under his leadership in a number of areas, including technology, healthcare, and education.
Furthermore, Hun Manet’s focus on developing solid international alliances and encouraging regional cooperation has elevated Cambodia to a prominent position in the international scene. His attempts to fortify relations with nations such as South Korea have created opportunities for cooperation and communication in fields including trade, technology, and cultural exchange.
While South Korea is renowned for its cutting-edge research and technology, Cambodia presents a developing market with a youthful, tech-savvy populace. Through the exchange of knowledge and assets, both nations can leverage one another’s advantages to promote creativity and economic expansion.
Due to its rich agricultural history and its fertile geography, Cambodia has enormous agricultural potential. Conversely, South Korea possesses cutting edge farming techniques and technologies that can boost Cambodia’s agriculture sector’s sustainability and productivity. Both nations may cooperate to improve agricultural development and food security by exchanging information and resources.
International cooperation can be beneficial to both parties and present growth prospects, but it is not without its difficulties and roadblocks. These obstacles should be taken into consideration while thinking about possible cooperation between South Korea and Cambodia under the Hun Manet administration.
The disparity in economic procedures, cultural conventions, and beliefs between the two countries is a major obstacle. For cooperation and communication to be successful, it is imperative that these differences be recognized and respected. Language difficulties can also be a problem because effective partnerships depend on clear communication.
Furthermore, the establishment of alliances may be slowed down by political difficulties and bureaucratic roadblocks. It takes time, patience, and experience to navigate the legal systems and negotiate agreements in both nations. Due to the fact that any nation may have different growth objectives and methods, economic inequalities and market variations can also provide challenges.
Outside variables like trade restrictions, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty in the world economy may have an effect on future cooperation between South Korea and Cambodia. For any cooperative endeavour to be successful, these obstacles must be foreseen and proactively addressed.
Both Cambodia and Korea should be focusing on improving diplomatic relations through frequent high-level discussions and exchanges. Both nations may address common concerns and investigate new options for collaboration by promoting open channels of communication and mutual understanding.
Leveraging economic relationships to promote trade and investment opportunities is another successful tactic. Both countries’ economies can thrive and prosper if companies from both sides are encouraged to form strategic partnerships and joint ventures.
Given the lengthy history of cooperation between South Korea and Cambodia, examining the successful alliances between the two nations can yield insightful information for upcoming projects. The Friendship Bridge project between South Korea and Cambodia, which marked a critical turning point in the two countries’ bilateral relationship, is a noteworthy case study. In addition to improving connection between various parts of Cambodia, the bridge—which was constructed with assistance from South Korea—symbolizes the close relations between the two countries.
The Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Center (CKCC), located in Phnom Penh, is another example of a successful collaboration. It acts as a focal point for advancing business, language, and cultural exchange opportunities between the two nations. The institution has been instrumental in promoting understanding and collaboration between the two countries on a variety of fronts, which has aided in their overall development.
In conclusion, there is a lot of hope for the future in the possible partnerships between South Korea and Cambodia under the Hun Manet administration. These partnerships could lead to advancement, prosperity, and mutual gain.
Let’s seize this chance to deepen the connections, create enduring alliances, and create a better future for both countries. Hun Manet should strongly improve the good relations between Cambodia and South Korea because the former prime minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, is the first one who established the diplomatic relations between Cambodia and South Korea while he was the second prime minister in 1997. Listening to the lacking points from experts and internally working to improve Cambodia’s capacities, it would be the best tracks to gradually develop Cambodia with peace and prosperity.
Seun Sam is a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
The views expressed are his own.