Members of the National Assembly sat down with a representative of the UK Parliament yesterday to discuss political party groups and the legislative system in the UK as part of a two-day consultative meeting that ends today.

The event saw senior clerk Gosia McBride deliver four seminars to the 14 Cambodian lawmakers in attendance, covering party structure, parliamentary oversight, the legislative process and support for government and opposition members.

“We had an excellent session this morning,” McBride said during a break in yesterday’s event. “We had lots of questions and discussion in the earlier session this morning, so I’ve been quite impressed.”

Her participation came after an invitation from the National Assembly for idea sharing on both the legislative system and female participation in politics, which is on the agenda today.

According to Tep Sothy, one of 11 representatives from the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party in attendance, such an exchange is essential to the evolution of the country’s political culture.

“We need to think differently; Cambodia is not alone anymore.”