AKP Phnom Penh, January 17, 2025 --

Visiting Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia H.E. Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Johari bin Abdul said he looks forward to working closely with the Parliament, the Royal Government, and the people of Cambodia to further strengthen the momentum of relations between the two countries and ASEAN relations.

He made the remarks when he paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, at the Senate Palace here this morning.

In the meeting, H.E. Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Johari bin Abdul spoke highly of Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s wise leadership and regarded him as the legend stateman in the region.

The Malaysian House Speaker also highlighted that as the Chair of ASEAN, Malaysia wants to strengthen and expand cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, and banking... especially the exchanges, not only at the level of parliamentarians, but also between students by providing scholarships for Cambodian students to study in Malaysia.

H.E. Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Johari bin Abdul emphasised that ASEAN should grow together because ASEAN has people, assets, and mutual understanding as a single bloc, and urged the member states to build trust and solidarity and promote peaceful coexistence as good neighbours.

For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen briefed his guest on the current situation and the history of peace of Cambodia and some of his perspectives on ASEAN development.

The Cambodian Senate President lauded the growing relationship between the two countries, especially the significant increase in visits by senior leaders of both countries.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also encouraged Cambodia and Malaysia to build more trust and promote more trade, stressing that the two countries should set a two-way trade target of US$2 billion, and boost the economic, trade, investment, tourism... exchanges.

A high-level delegation of the House of Representatives of Malaysia led by its Speaker H.E. Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Johari bin Abdul and his spouse arrived in Phnom Penh yesterday afternoon to pay a three-day official and friendly visit to Cambodia, at the invitation of Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia.

By Heng Panha