Padma Bridge a Symbol of Pride for Developing World: Hun Sen

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh for successfully implementing the challenging Padma Bridge project with their own resources, reports UNB. 

He termed the bridge as a “symbol of pride” for developing countries like Cambodia.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen paid a courtesy call on the Cambodian Prime Minister in Phnom Penh on Friday.

They expressed satisfaction with the existing bilateral relations and resolved to further strengthen them in the days ahead.

Momen extended an invitation to the Cambodian prime minister for a visit to Bangladesh next year on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between these two countries.

He sought the Cambodian leader’s support as the current Chair of ASEAN for expediting the repatriation of the stranded Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar.

He also requested Cambodian support in favour of Bangladesh's candidacy for the Sectoral Dialogue Partnership.

Meanwhile, the Cambodian leader conveyed his best regards and greetings to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Momen and Hun Sen exchanged views on the challenges emanating from the pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Both the leaders voiced concerns about the escalating food and energy insecurity affecting people, particularly in the developing world.

They also stressed the importance of dialogue and peaceful settlement of issues for the maintenance of peace and stability in the world.

Bangladesh-Cambodia bilateral talks were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Phnom Penh.

Foreign Minister Momen and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn led the respective delegations.

The two Foreign Ministers reviewed the important aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The two Foreign Ministers reiterated their keenness for further strengthening the existing bilateral relations by adding further substances to them.

The two sides discussed, inter alia, the areas of cooperation in trade, commerce, investment, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food security, manpower, ICT, tourism, cultural exchange etc.

Both the sides agreed to make efforts to enhance the bilateral trade, which is currently much below its potential, they observed.

They also emphasised concluding the diverse MoUs under process at the earliest.

Both sides agreed to have more high-level engagements to add further momentum to the bilateral relations.

Following the bilateral talks, an MoU was signed between the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh and the National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations of Cambodia in presence of Momen and his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn.

Dr Momen delivered a lecture on “Padma Bridge in Bangladesh: Opening New Opportunity for Connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia” at the National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations.

Later in the evening, Foreign Minister met the Bangladeshi expatriates in Cambodia and urged them to contribute with their experience and expertise to the development and progress of the country.