Phnom penh: Cambodia and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening and deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors of mutual interest.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the commitment was made during a courtesy farewell meeting between Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and Ms. Bridgette L. Walker, Charg© d'Affaires, a.i. of the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia, at the Peace Palace as Ms. Walker concludes her diplomatic mission in the Kingdom. Ms. Walker expressed her pleasure at having successfully carried out her diplomatic mission in Cambodia, noting the country's continued development across many sectors and highlighting the positive momentum in Cambodia-U.S. relations.
She cited several notable achievements in bilateral cooperation, including the repatriation of Khmer artefacts, celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the increasing number of visits by U.S. government and congressional delegations to Cambodia, particularly from the U.S. Department of Defence, as well as port calls by U.S. naval vessels.
Ms. Walker also recalled the signing of a reciprocal tariff trade agreement in October 2025 aimed at strengthening and expanding bilateral trade relations. In response, Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet congratulated Ms. Walker on the successful completion of her diplomatic mission and thanked her for her active contribution to enhancing and deepening Cambodia-U.S. relations, especially during challenging periods for Cambodia.
Samdech Thipadei expressed satisfaction with the progress of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to further strengthening ties with the United States. On the occasion, the Prime Minister also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for contributing to efforts that led to the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as for supporting the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of Oct. 26, 2025, and the Joint Statement issued on Dec. 27, 2025.
The two sides also discussed ways to further promote cooperation in trade and investment, with a focus on attracting more U.S. investors to Cambodia. Ms. Walker noted the growing interest of American investors in Cambodia, while Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet highlighted Cambodia's ongoing reforms aimed at improving the investment climate, enhancing resilience, and boosting the country's competitiveness.