Prime Minister Hun Sen met with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, at Phnom Penh’s Peace Palace yesterday morning where the duo discussed an outstanding Soviet Union-era debt and signed off on deals ranging from cooperation in nuclear power to exchanging information on money laundering.
Following the hour-long meeting between the two leaders, which took place on the final day of Medevev’s three-day visit to Cambodia, a total of 10 deals were signed.
“The Russian prime minister agreed to all of the requests made by Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen to enhance bilateral cooperation” between the countries, the premier’s spokesman, Eang Sopalleth, told reporters.
Deals signed between the two countries included an agreement on money laundering and terrorist financing, a cooperation pact between the Cambodian People’s Party and the All-Russian Political Party “United Russia”, and a memorandum of understanding on “Cooperation in Nuclear Power Use for Peaceful Development”.
Hun Sen has previously rejected the notion of developing nuclear power in Cambodia, though in 2014 asked the International Atomic Energy Agency to help train workers in how to use nuclear technology in the agriculture and health sectors.
The Russian Embassy did not respond to requests for further details.
Aside from the 10 agreements, Sopalleth said Hun Sen and Medvedev also discussed a loan the then-Soviet Union granted to Cambodia’s Vietnamese-backed government in 1979.
Sophalleth would not reveal details of the loan amount, which was last year pegged at $1.5 billion. “The two parties agreed to further discussions … [so far] the discussions have been moving forward for a strong, positive deal.”
