• Politics

Foreign Nations Congratulate New PM

• By Teng Yalirozy
• August 23, 2023 3:33 PM

PHNOM PENH – China, Myanmar, North Korea and Japan were among the countries to send congratulatory messages to the new Prime Minister who took office officially yesterday.

They said they were looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation. However, the West was guarded in its comments.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said China and Cambodia were brothers and friends, helping each other to promote stability and prosperity as well as upholding international fairness and justice.

The Cambodian-Chinese community's shared future might serve as a model for a new kind of international relationship, he said.

“China firmly supports Cambodia in pursuing a path suited to its national condition,” Li wrote in a message sent from Beijing to Phnom Penh. “I stand ready to work with you to carry forward our traditional friendship.”

Myanmar’s junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing congratulated new PM Hun Manet, saying the two countries have maintained a close-knit relationship over the past 60 years, while Cambodia and Myanmar always work for their mutual interest and respect for sovereignty.

“It is my firm conviction that under your visionary leadership and guidance, close cooperation between Myanmar and Cambodia will be further strengthened and enhanced in various areas to bring about tangible benefits to our two nations and people in the years to come,” Min Aung Hlaing wrote.

Prime Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Tok Hun said, “I take this opportunity to express my conviction that the long-standing and traditional relationship between the two countries will continue to strengthen and develop on good terms in conformity with the aspiration and desire of the two people.”

Thailand’s outgoing prime minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha told Hun Manet that Thailand will continue to bring mutual benefits to the two countries.

“I am very pleased that the relations between Thailand and Cambodia have continued to grow in all aspects,” he wrote in a letter. “I am confident that, under your able leadership and with the strong support you received from Cambodian people, you will be able to lead Cambodia towards peace and prosperity.”

Through the Embassy of Japan​, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said, “I have the intention to cooperate with you [Hun Manet] to push forward bilateral relations, regional and international cooperation as well as a comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Lee Hsien Loong, Premier of Singapore said, “I look forward to working with you and your team to continue strengthening our cooperation.”

Other messages were sent from Vietnam, Brunei, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh, Maldives Belarus, Ghana, Tunisia, Hungary, and Cuba.

The US and the United Kingdom attended the first session of the 7th legislature. US Ambassador Patrick Murphy tweeted that, “as the new gov’t begins its tenure, it can restore multi-party democracy, end political convictions, and allow independent media to reopen & function without interference.”

UK Ambassador Dominic Williams said he had listened to the speech delivered by King Norodom Sihanomi about the important duty of the Assembly to support peace and prosperity and deliver for the people of Cambodia.

The new Cambodian government was officially announced on Aug. 22, nearly a month after the July 23 national election. It includes both reappointed former ministers and members of the new generation, most of whom are relatives of long-time Cambodian People’s Party leaders.

Just last week, the US Embassy in Cambodia reiterated its stance to strengthen relations between Washington and Phnom Penh, while working on promoting democracy and human rights in the country.

After the election, however, the US State Department said the election was “neither free nor fair” and announced it had “taken steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermined democracy and implemented a pause on certain foreign assistance programs.”