Japan-Cambodia Summit Meeting (Summary)
On September 7, commencing at 17:50 p.m. (local time; same day, 19:50 p.m. JST) for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, who is visiting Indonesia to attend the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings, held a Summit Meeting with Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Introduction
Prime Minister Kishida, while conveying his congratulations to Prime Minister Hun Manet for assuming office as prime minister, expressed his desire to work with Prime Minister Hun Manet to strengthen the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” and to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law. In response, Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his gratitude for Japan’s contribution to Cambodia’s peace, reconstruction and economic development, as well as his desire to make efforts to strengthen relations with Japan.
2. Bilateral Relations
(1) Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan’s desire to strengthen security cooperation through dialogue between the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the Royal Cambodian Army and visits by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to the Ream Naval Base. Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that the security area is an important part of bilateral cooperation and that he would like to develop the cooperation not only with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, but also with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Cambodia continues to welcome the port call by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
(2) Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan’s desire to continue to cooperate for the economic and social development of Cambodia, while also utilizing Japanese technology in the digital area. Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his desire to continue to cooperate with Japan, including in the digital area, to which the Cambodian Government attaches importance.
(3) Prime Minister Kishida stated that in building a healthy democratic society, it is important to create an environment in which the people can express diverse opinions, and that Japan will continue to support Cambodia’s democratic development. Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his gratitude for Japan’s cooperation to date and asked for continuous Japan’s support.
3. Regional and International Affairs
(1) Prime Minister Kishida referred to the recently announced “ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Connectivity Initiative,” and stated that he hopes to announce a new vision for cooperation and a wide range of concrete cooperation on the occasion of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in December toward which the two leaders agreed to continue to work together.
(2) The two leaders agreed to work more closely together in responding to regional and international affairs, including dealing with North Korean nuclear and missile issues and the abductions issue, as well as the reform of the United Nations Security Council.
