Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn received a courtesy call by Petra Sigmund – director-general for Asia and the Pacific at the German Federal Foreign Office – on January 26. PRAK SOKHONN VIA FACEBOOK
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn told a senior German diplomat that Cambodia is fully intended to help Myanmar return to normalcy, end violence and achieve peace and national reconciliation.
Sokhonn, who has been appointed as the ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar, reaffirmed Cambodia's stance during a meeting with Petra Sigmund – director-general for Asia and the Pacific at the German Federal Foreign Office – on January 26 for talks on bilateral relations and other issues of ASEAN, which Cambodia chairs this year.
“Accordingly, it is indispensable that all parties concerned engage in a peaceful and constructive dialogue process,” he said, referring to prolonged Myanmar crisis.
Sokhonn briefed Sigmund on the recent visit by Prime Minister Hun Sen to Myanmar, saying it was aimed at paving the way for a step-by-step progress in the implementation of the ASEAN five-point consensus (5PC). The minister noted, however, that the peace process must be "Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned".
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On bilateral ties, Sokhonn and Sigmund recalled the long-standing bonds of friendship and close cooperation between Cambodia and Germany.
Sokhonn said that Germany is one of the Kingdom’s top trading partners among other EU member states and that Cambodia is proud to be one of German tourists’ favorite travel destinations.
“In this regard, [Sokhonn and Sigmund] shared the view that there is a potential for both countries to double their efforts to further increase the trade volume,” the ministry said in a press release after the meeting.
Sokhonn thanked the government and people of Germany for their generous assistance to the Covid-19 Emergency Response Plan of Cambodia totalling over $17 million.
He also thanked Germany for its continued contribution to the socio-economic development of Cambodia in many fields including education, culture, rural development, poverty reduction, energy, mine clearance, decentralisation and land reform.
Sigmund reiterated Germany’s support for the ASEAN’s 5PC and readiness to work closely with Cambodia.
“My minister is delighted to meet with you,” she said, referring to German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.
She relayed Baerbock's intention of inviting Sokhonn for an official visit to Germany during his mission to Europe in February.
