PHNOM PENH — Prime Minister Hun Manet on May 6 congratulated Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his Labor Party’s decisive win in the country’s recent general elections. In a phone call, Manet expressed hope that bilateral ties between Cambodia and Australia would be further accelerated and strengthened.

Albanese’s center-left Labor Party secured a second term in the May 3 federal election with a comfortable majority, cementing his leadership and reaffirming public support for his government’s policies on climate action, economic stability, and regional engagement.

“I spoke with Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, by phone to express my congratulations on the resounding victory of the Australian Labor Party in the federal election,” Hun Manet wrote on his official Facebook page.

He noted that the election outcome reflects the Australian people's strong confidence in Albanese’s leadership and their continued support for his premiership and national agenda.

“I firmly believe that under his leadership, our two countries will continue to promote cooperation in all sectors for the common and mutual benefits of our people,” the prime minister added.

Sam Seun, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the relationship between Cambodia and Australia has remained solid over the years, with no major conflicts since diplomatic ties were established. He emphasized Australia’s role in helping re-establish contact with Cambodia after diplomatic relations with the United States broke down in 1965.

“In the modern era, from the leadership of Hun Sen to Hun Manet, the friendship between the two countries has grown even stronger, especially within ASEAN and through bilateral cooperation,” Seun said.

He highlighted a recent example of growing educational ties.

“One point worth mentioning is that when Prime Minister Hun Manet took office, he requested the Australian government to increase the number of scholarship seats for Cambodian students from at least 30 to at least 60,” Seun said. “The Australian government increased the seats to 60 as requested.”

Australia has been offering scholarships to Cambodian public servants since 1994, laying the foundation for a long-term educational partnership. Over 1,000 Cambodians have benefited from these programs, forming a strong alumni network.

While there has never been open confrontation between the two countries, Seun noted that Australia has used “gentle diplomacy” to support Cambodia’s development. He added that many Cambodians associate Australia with the academic and professional achievements of those who studied there.

Looking ahead, Seun urged both countries to maintain strong relations through direct dialogue and to avoid the influence of media content that could interfere with diplomacy.

As a member of ASEAN and a Mekong country, Cambodia should seek to understand Australia’s interests and work towards reciprocal cooperation, he said.

Despite the strength of current ties, Seun believes Cambodia’s partnership with Australia has yet to reach the elevated level seen with some of its regional neighbors.

In 2018, Vietnam and Australia announced a Strategic Partnership, which was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024. The Philippines and Australia formed a Comprehensive Partnership in 2015, and in 2023, their ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership. Thailand also established a Strategic Partnership with Australia in 2020.

“Cambodia should work on accelerating its partnership with Australia,” Seun said.

Diplomatic ties between the two nations date back to the Colombo Plan, signed by the Australian government in 1952. In 1955, Australia opened its first legation in Phnom Penh, marking the beginning of a new phase of cooperation.