Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) expressed his hopes that Cambodia will become an SCO observer. Cambodia has been a dialogue partner of the organisation for seven years.

Prime Minister Hun Sen met with Zhang on November 12, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen thanked Zhang for his support for of Cambodia’s bid to gain SCO observer status. He underlined the Kingdom’s readiness to comply with the organisation’s recommendations as it endeavoured to reach this goal.

In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that both sides had discussed Cambodia’s application for SCO Observer status at length.

Hun Sen said that since becoming an SCO dialogue partner in 2015, Cambodia has contributed to promoting cooperation between ASEAN-SCO. He underlined that Cambodia’s active engagement in different regional and international organisations has the aim of strengthening friendships and maintaining peace, stability and security.

“The secretary-general praised Cambodia for its active engagement in promoting ASEAN-SCO relations. He highlighted the SCO’s internal process for a country to be elevated from dialogue partner status to observer and expressed his hope that Cambodia will become an SCO Observer,” the press release read.

It said that the two sides had also shared their commitment to further strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and SCO.