PHNOM PENH – Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi has become one of the first foreign envoys to have toured all 25 capital/provinces in the country, saying at the end of his tour how impressed he had been by the warm welcome he had received from people throughout the country.

Ueno took on his post in Cambodia in January 2023.

As he explained in a video posted on the embassy’s Facebook page on June 6, upon arrival in the country, he was determined to complete the trip of the​​ capital and 24 provinces during his tenure.

After two years and four months, Ueno completed his goal with Oddar Meanchey province being his last destination.

“Every province I visited had wonderful culture and nature, making them truly charming places,” he said. “Above all, what left the deepest impression on me was the very warm welcome I received from local people where I went.” Having achieved this round of visits, Ueno has set out the goal of visiting all provinces a second time. “Please continue to cheer me up,” he said.

Besides Ueno, other foreign envoys have also toured the country, including Joseph Mussomeli, who was the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia from 2005 to 2008, and Australian Ambassador Pablo Kang, who served from 2020 to 2023. 

Cambodia-Japan relations were established in 1953. Then, in 2023, the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. 

Japan is a major donor country to Cambodia, providing a significant amount of development assistance.  

Prime Minister Hun Manet met with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, in May. During their meeting, the two leaders agreed to further strengthen relations between the two countries. 

The article has been modified to clarify that Ueno was not the first foreign envoy to tour the entire country.