Cambodia PM talks with US Secretary on regional issues

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry on January 26 to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues.

Hun Sen stressed the significance of boosting trade ties between the two countries, and hailed the US-Cambodia joint efforts in anti-terrorism, personal assistant to the PM Eang Sophalleth told reporters after the meeting.

The PM requested the US to consider quota-free and duty-free policies for Cambodian products, so as to increase bilateral trade volume, he added.

According to Sophalleth, Kerry said his visit to Cambodia aimed to prepare the ground for the upcoming ASEAN-US summit in Sunnylands, California and maximise cooperation opportunities between the two nations.

American investors saw Cambodia as a promising destination for investment, Kerry noted, adding that he promised to take the PM’s request into consideration.

The two sides also touched on the territorial disputes in the East Sea. Hun Sen said all related parties should fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and act towards the completion of the Code of Conduct (COC).

Earlier the same day, Kerry held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. The two diplomats exchanged views on several economic issues, as well as regional and international matters, including the recent atrocities carried out by Islamic State (IS) and the hydrogen bomb test allegedly conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Kerry arrived in Phnom Penh late on January 25 for a day-long visit.-VNA