Press Releases
Japan-Cambodia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
December 17, 2023
On December 17, commencing at 5 p.m., Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Sok Chenda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, for approximately 60 minutes. The overview is as follows.
- Introduction
Minister Kamikawa expressed her gratitude for Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea’s visit to Japan to attend the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea expressed his deep appreciation for Japan’s support for and contribution to Cambodia’s history of peace and development. Minister Kamikawa and Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea confirmed to work together to strengthen the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” between Japan and Cambodia and to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law. - Bilateral relations
Minister Kamikawa stated cooperation between Japan and Cambodia is being advanced in many fields, both in the public and private sectors, and Japan intends to further advance cooperation in security, digital, and cybersecurity measures. Minister Kamikawa also stated that Japan intends to revitalize intellectual, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges, through the “Next-Generation Co-Creation Partnership: WA Project 2.0,” and exchange programs including JENESYS. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea reiterated his gratitude for Japan’s support for peace, reconstruction and development in Cambodia. The two ministers concurred that the two countries will work together including through communications between the diplomatic authorities towards the progress of further bilateral cooperation. - Regional and International Situations
Minister Kamikawa stated that she welcomes advances in cooperation with Cambodia in the areas of demining and peacebuilding, and, on the area of mines in particular, the cooperation being advanced in demining assistance in third country support, including in Ukraine, and the two ministers confirmed their continued collaboration.
In addition, the two ministers also had candid discussions on international affairs, and concurred to work together on issues facing the regional and international communities, including the promotion of Women, Peace and Security (WPS), the situation in Myanmar, the situation in the East and South China Seas, the response to North Korea including the nuclear and missile issues and the abductions issue, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the situation surrounding Israel and Palestine.