Prime Minister Hun Sen has suggested that the celebration of Japan’s 30th anniversary in 2022 of its peacekeeping operation in Cambodia be turned into an opportunity to strengthen national defence cooperation between the two countries.
The prime minister made the remarks on December 28 while receiving Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Masahiro Mikami at his residence in Kandal province’s Takhmao town.
During the meeting, Mikami said that for the celebration of the 30th peacekeeping operation next year, Japan will send an unspecified number of self-defence force ships to dock in Preah Sihanouk province, according to Hun Sen’s Facebook post.
“In the meantime, Masahiro Mikami informed [Hun Sen] about Japan’s support to make Preah Sihanouk Port into a premiere modern port facility for Cambodia,” the post said.
The ambassador also invited Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and commander of the army’s infantry, to visit Japan next year.
Mikami also informed Hun Sen about health-related foreign aid from Japan to Cambodia, including 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccines and other medical supplies. Japan also donated vehicles and other materials to help Cambodia successfully host the ASEAN summit next year.
Hun Sen thanked the Japanese government and people for providing aid to Cambodia, especially the Covid-19 vaccines, which arrived in Phnom Penh recently.
“[Hun Sen] welcomes the invitation for Hun Manet to pay an official visit to Japan and he welcomes the self-defence force’s plans to dock ships in Cambodian territory,” said the post.
