Cambodian Foreign Minister Engages in Bilateral Talks at UN Assembly

New York:Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Prak Sokhonn, serving as Cambodia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, conducted a series of bilateral meetings on September 25. These discussions took place on the sidelines of the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the morning session involved talks with H.E. Ms. Louise MUSHIKIWABO, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). The dialogue centered on preparations for the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled to be hosted by Cambodia from November 13 to 17, 2026, in Phnom Penh. Key side events like the Francophonie Village and FrancoTech were also part of the discussions. In the afternoon, H.E. Prak Sokhonn met with H.E. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The meeting revisited previous engagements, including a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Consultations and an Agreement on Visa Exemption for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders. Both nations expressed satisfaction with their strengthening relationship, and Cambodia welcomed Rwanda's participation in the upcoming Francophonie Summit. Later, H.E. Prak Sokhonn had his first official meeting with H.E. Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs. They discussed the upcoming participation of Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet in the 7th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit, set for October 12-15, 2026, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The meeting also touched on the Azerbaijan-Armenia Joint Declaration from August 2025 and the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border.