The Indonesian Embassy on Thursday held a book launch to mark 60 years of friendship between Indonesia and Cambodia. KHORN SAVI
The Indonesian Embassy on Thursday held a book launch at a hotel in the capital to mark Cambodia and Indonesia’s 60 years of friendship.
The book, entitled Moving Forward, was published by the Indonesian Embassy and tackles the achievements made through the two countries’ collaborations.
The book also highlights new measures in enhancing cooperation and diplomatic relations between the two nations in the fields of politics, security, economy, culture and society.
Indonesian ambassador Sudirman Haseng said direct flights between Cambodia and Indonesia officially began this year, which he believes would provide more opportunities for the people of both nations to interact.
“I am pleased to remind you that Indonesia and Cambodia now have direct flights between Jakarta and Phnom Penh.
“This is a wonderful gift to celebrate our 60 years of friendship and we hope it will increase people-to-people contact as well as boost trade,” said Haseng.
Mayerfas, secretary-general of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the book was an initiative by the Indonesian Embassy and was written in collaboration with its Cambodian counterpart.
He expressed hope that the book will reflect existing bilateral relations between the countries and further strengthen their relationship.
“The main theme of this book is moving forward. To move forward is to focus on furthering cooperation,” he said.
In 1955, at the first African-Asia Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia which was attended by King Father Norodom Sihanouk and his Cambodian delegates, Indonesia recognised Cambodia as an independent state.
Four years later on February 13, 1959, Cambodia and Indonesia established its diplomatic relations through the Treaty of Friendship, marking the beginning of mutual support in maintaining peace and stability and promoting development.
Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Eat Sophea said Indonesia had played a key role in hosting the negotiation process of the Paris Peace Agreement until its ratification in 1991.
The country had also contributed in sending nearly 2,000 peacekeepers to Cambodia as part of the operation of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia in 1991.
“Most recently, the warm relationship between Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and President Joko Widodo has increased people-to-people and business-to-business linkages,” said Sophea.
“This has, in turn, encouraged growing cooperation between our countries across the fields of economy, trade, tourism, aviation, culture, human resources development and national defence,” she added.
