International relations

A senior official of the Ministry of Commerce said negotiations on the free-trade agreement (FTA) between Cambodia and China have achieved about 70 percent success so far and they are expected to sign the agreement by the end of the year. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen and United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday spoke by phone to discuss various issues, including the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security cooperation and COVID-19 pandemic response. ...

Cambodia and Thailand are in talks to open more border gates to import and export agricultural products after the two countries largely closed their borders amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Held on Tuesday on the Thai side of the border, the Cambodian delegation was led by ...

The US Embassy in Cambodia on Saturday facilitated the return of two Cambodian statues after its Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) seized them in 2005 and 2017. ...

China and Cambodia yesterday ended their largest-ever joint military exercise “Golden Dragon 2020” held for 15 days in Kampot province’s Chum Kiri district. ...

Trade activities across the Vietnam- Cambodia border have been maintained despite the halt of entry and exit of citizens and tourists as a measure to curb the spread of the acute respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen has responded to US Congressman Ted Yoho, saying he is ready to improve Cambodia-US relations, and not take up issues of disagreements which have become a barrier between the two countries’ bilateral cooperation. ...

The Ministry of Health has ramped up its preparation to stem the spread of the deadly Covid-19 disease in the Kingdom thanks to help from the Jack Ma and Alibaba foundations which donated 20,000 test kits to the Kingdom. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday shut down the border with Vietnam amid COVID-19 fears. “We will be closing down the border [today],” Mr Hun Sen said. “This is not a response to Vietnam’s closure of its border with us.” ...

Cambodia has asked for Vietnam’s coordination to ensure uninterrupted cross-border transport of goods amid the COVID-19 epidemic. ...

The Vietnamese government on Sunday locked down its borders with the Kingdom and imposed a month-long entry ban for any foreign traveler – except accredited diplomats – as the country adopts  measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. ...

Germany has committed to providing another €3.5 million ($3,841,000) over the next two years to the Halo Trust for landmine clearance in Cambodia in a bid to help the Kingdom reach its landmine-free goal in 2025. ...

Foreign Affairs Ministry undersecretary of state Chea Kimtha and Japanese director-general for Southeast Asian Affairs Hiroshi Ishikawa held a meeting yesterday to bolster cooperation between the two countries. ...

Cambodia is preparing to host the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) for the first time on November 16-17 this year, in what Prime Minister Hun Sen has called a landmark in historical diplomacy, where pluralism will take centre stage. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen has revealed plans for the construction of a new highway, National Road 10, from Battambang to Koh Kong province. ...

Cambodia and Laos yesterday renewed their commitment to cooperate on border security issues, including drug trafficking. ...

The draft law on transfer of convicted inmate treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam will be debated at the National Assembly’s special sitting next week, the first-ever treaty the Kingdom has with a foreign country. ...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs with its Bangladeshi counterpart, announced plans of signing an agreement to grant the introduction of direct flights from Dakha to Phnom Penh to boost trade volume and tourism. ...

Comments made by US Ambassador to Cambodia, Patrick Murphy, that his country is not pursuing regime change in the Kingdom is an “important message” for efforts to restore relationships between the two nations. ...

The Royal Government of Cambodia has unveiled plans to improve facilities at border gates with Thailand and Vietnam in order to ease cross-border transport and boost trade activities.   ...

The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and the Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) on Tuesday signed an agreement on research and mine clearance in areas near the border. ...

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Friday met with the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) to discuss the impact of the new coronavirus on the Kingdom’s economy and promote trade and investment between the nations. ...

A ranking Chinese Chamber of Commerce official has revealed to Khmer Times that China may prioritise supply Cambodia for its immediate raw materials need to allow the factories here to continue operating.   ...

Japan is helping to foster Cambodia’s information technology toward the emerging industrial revolution 4.0. ...