Cambodia and Pakistan Pledge to Deepen Parliamentary Cooperation
Cambodia and Pakistan Pledge to Deepen Parliamentary Cooperation
#National
National Assembly President Khuon Sudary on Wednesday warmly received Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chairman of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, at the National Assembly Palace.
The meeting took place during the official and friendly visit of Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to Cambodia, conducted at the invitation of Senate President Hun Sen.
During the meeting, Sudary welcomed the visit, noting that 2026 marks the 71st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Pakistan, and expressed confidence that the visit would help elevate bilateral relations to a new level and deliver tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.
She recalled recent progress in inter-parliamentary cooperation, highlighting their meeting in April 2025 in Seoul during the Universal Peace Federation Conference and the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC). She also extended her congratulations on the official recognition of the ISC and the consensus election of Chairman Gilani as its Founding Chairman.
Against growing global volatility and uncertainty, Sudary underscored the importance of parliamentary platforms such as the ISC in promoting dialogue, trust and cooperation, expressing confidence that the ISC would serve as a key mechanism of parliamentary diplomacy in support of peace, development and shared prosperity.
Sudary further emphasised that Cambodia and Pakistan share similar historical experiences and a strong commitment to peace, dialogue and confidence-building, reaffirming Cambodia’s principled stance that disputes must be resolved peacefully.
“War produces no winners, but patience, restraint and negotiation are essential for lasting peace,” she stressed.
For his part, Chairman Gilani thanked Sudary and the Cambodian people for their warm hospitality, noting that this was his third visit to Cambodia, following visits in 2019 and 2023, including as an election observer. He also described his meetings with Cambodia’s senior leadership as constructive and forward-looking.
Chairman Gilani praised the long-standing friendship between the two countries, built over more than seven decades on the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual understanding and shared interests, and expressed his appreciation to Cambodia for its continued support for Pakistan in regional and international forums.
He expressed Pakistan’s desire to further deepen cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, technology and youth exchanges, emphasising the importance of empowering young people through skills development and technological training.
Both sides welcomed Cambodia’s hosting of a future ISC meeting, which Chairman Gilani said he would formally announce, highlighting Cambodia’s growing role in parliamentary diplomacy. They also discussed strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation, including parliamentary Friendship Groups and exchanges between Members of Parliament and the Secretariat-General.
Sudary underscored broader strategic perspectives, noting that Cambodia and Pakistan, as close partners of China, share a strong commitment to mutual respect, sovereign equality and peaceful coexistence.
She emphasised the importance of upholding international law and a multilateral order while amplifying the voice of the Global South, and encouraged deeper bilateral, trilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, tourism, education, agriculture and defence.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of exploring practical steps to further facilitate bilateral relations, including encouraging private-sector investment, particularly in Cambodia’s food-processing and Halal industries, considering the establishment of direct flights between the two countries, and exploring the opening of a Cambodian embassy in Islamabad.
The meeting concluded in a warm and friendly atmosphere, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening mutual trust, enhancing parliamentary cooperation, and working together to promote peace, stability and development at bilateral, regional and global levels.
-Khmer Times-
