Cambodia thanked Switzerland for their development assistance and programmes, while the two countries vowed to continue their strong commitment to further enhancing the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

The vow was made on December 15 by Chem Widhya, secretary of state of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Pedro Zwahlen, Swiss ambassador-designate.

“Widhya thanked the government and people of Switzerland for their development assistance in many areas. Their aid ranges from local governance and citizen participation to agriculture and food security to vocational skill training and employment.

“Cambodia is also grateful for their continued support for Kantha Bopha hospitals over the years,” said a ministry press statement.

Widhya congratulated Switzerland for the recent celebration of the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Cambodia and the launch of the new Swiss Cooperation Programme in the Mekong Region 2022-2025, the ministry said.

Zwahlen praised Cambodia’s successes in curbing the spread of Covid-19 and offered his congratulations for the Kingdom’s chairmanship of ASEAN, and for its hosting of the recent ASEAN Summits.

Both sides look forward to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Switzerland and the 3rd round of bilateral consultations in Phnom Penh early next year.

“They expressed strong commitment to further enhance the existing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries as well as cooperation on the international arena. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interests,” the ministry said.