Philippine Senate President Optimistic About Strengthening Cambodia-Philippines Relations and Cooperation

Philippine Senate President Optimistic About Strengthening Cambodia-Philippines Relations and Cooperation

On the afternoon of February 11, 2025, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, met with His Excellency Francis G. Escudero, President of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, during his official visit to Manila from February 10 to 11, 2025.

During the meeting, His Excellency the Senate President warmly welcomed Samdech Borvor Thipadei and highly commended the strong and fruitful cooperation between Cambodia and the Philippines. He expressed confidence that this visit would further strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between the two nations. Furthermore, he emphasized that the effective implementation of the eight memorandums of understanding and agreements signed during the visit would bring meaningful and fruitful outcomes to both countries.

In response, Samdech Borvor Thipadei expressed deep gratitude for the warm welcome extended by the government and people of the Philippines to the Cambodian delegation. He also expressed satisfaction with his productive bilateral meeting with His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Acknowledging the long-standing and positive relations between the two countries, he reaffirmed his belief that bilateral cooperation would continue to produce greater results. Beyond political and diplomatic ties, he highlighted the significant potential in economic, trade, and investment relations, which could further accelerate collaboration between the two nations. In this sense, Cambodia can serve as a key partner in supporting the Philippines’ food security, especially through its surplus of high-quality rice at competitive prices.

The two leaders also discussed strengthening people-to-people relations and expanding direct flight connections beyond the existing Manila-Siem Reap-Manila and Cebu-Siem Reap-Cebu routes, aiming to create synergy in boosting tourism and attracting visitors from outside the region to explore both countries and the broader ASEAN community.

Before concluding, Samdech Borvor Thipadei extended an invitation to His Excellency the Senate President and members of the Senate to visit Cambodia at a mutually convenient time, reaffirming Cambodia’s readiness to offer them a warm and hospitable welcome.

(Unofficial translation)