Cambodia and the United Nations are satisfied with their good cooperation and share the same commitment to further enhance it.

The satisfaction was highlighted during a meeting in Phnom Penh this morning between H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ms. Pauline Tamesis, outgoing UN Resident Coordinator to Cambodia.

According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation AKP received this evening, in the farewell meeting, H.E. Prak Sokhonn expressed his sincere congratulations for the successful completion of Ms. Pauline Tamesis’ mission in Cambodia and reaffirmed the Royal Government of Cambodia’s strong commitment to strengthening cooperation with the UN as proved by the hosting of the annual dialogue by Samdech Techo Prime Minister HUN Sen with the UN Country Team in Cambodia, except last year due to the pandemic.

The Deputy PM appreciated the support and assistance provided by the UN team in Cambodia, including extensive financial, technical, and operational supports, as well as tremendous amounts of vaccines through COVAX facility and other medical equipment to help Cambodia fighting Covid-19. He underlined Cambodia’s pride to be ranked 2nd in Asia Pacific for its successful vaccination campaign that enabled the government to open up the country since November last year.

Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn also thanked the UN for its support extended to Cambodia to become an important contributor in the UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, dispatching more than 8,000 Cambodian peacekeeping forces to 11 UNPKOs in 9 countries since 2006, underlining that Cambodia was ranked 28th among 122 contributing countries and 2nd in ASEAN in terms of women peacekeepers.

The Deputy PM also touched on the UN’s strong support to help Cambodia in undertaking its commitment on climate action and in preparing various draft laws and policies, as well as technical guidelines to enhance the functioning of public institutions and human rights practices.

H.E. Prak Sokhonn and Ms. Pauline Tamesis also discussed the enhancement of the ASEAN-UN cooperation and the attendance of the UN Secretary General in the 12th ASEAN-UN Summit to be held in a physical format in Cambodia this year under Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship. The Deputy PM highlighted some areas to be focused in the Summit, including the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, synergy between ASEAN Community’s Post 2025 Vision and Sustainable Development and the UN 2030 SDGs Agenda, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, environment protection, promotion of mine action cooperation, migrant workers, etc.

The Deputy PM also recalled his recent and first visit to Myanmar as the Special Envoy of the Chair of ASEAN in helping Myanmar to exit its current crisis as well as the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar.

Ms. Pauline Tamesis commended Cambodia’s socio-economic progress, significant contributions to international peacekeeping efforts, Cambodia’s success in combating Covid-19, leading to re-opening up the country and underlined the UN’s steadfast support for the development of strategies and policies of the Royal Government of Cambodia toward its sustainable development goals. She also expressed high appreciation and gratitude for the cooperation, support and facilitation rendered to the UN team in the country by the government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press