Cambodia on Tuesday underscored the primacy of ASEAN centrality and advised Bangladesh to have sustained engagements with ASEAN, both collectively and bilaterally. Bangladesh sought Cambodia’s support towards realising its interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) overseen by ASEAN.
Cambodia reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh’s bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner at the first-ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Phnom Penh. The support was conveyed by FOC Co-Chair Un Kheang, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The first FOC meeting was convened following the signing of an MoU back in 2020 during a bilateral Joint Commission meeting at the Ministerial level in Dhaka, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The FOC agenda covered the entire gamut of bilateral relations and stressed the need for activating the various Agreements and MoUs concluded between the two countries.
Both sides noted steady growth in bilateral trade and emphasized deepening business to business contacts. They agreed to convene the first Joint Trade Council meeting at the earliest convenient time in Phnom Penh next year.
Secretary Nazrul mooted the proposal for undertaking a feasibility study on a potential Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. Secretary Un acknowledged the need for both countries to further diversify their trading partners during the lead up to their respective LDC graduation.
The Cambodian side flagged that more than 1,100 pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh were registered in their market. They proposed the formation of a Joint Working Group to discuss enhanced cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, including for regulatory capacity building.
The Bangladesh side expressed interest in possible investment in rice and cashew nuts processing in Cambodia for buy back arrangements. The two delegations also agreed to convene meetings of the Joint Working Groups on agriculture and aquaculture in the near future. The Bangladesh Secretary thanked Cambodia for hosting registered migrant workers in construction and RMG sectors. Both sides exchanged views on means to promote safe, orderly and regular migration and reaffirmed their commitment to jointly combat trafficking in persons and online fraud.
The Bangladesh side thanked the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training of Cambodia for publishing awareness materials in Bangla on migration procedures to Cambodia. The two sides acknowledged the need for concluding an Air Services Agreement to facilitate direct flights. The Cambodian delegation expressed interest in developing joint tourism products for enhanced people-to-people contacts.
Secretary Nazrul briefed his Cambodian counterpart about the current situation with the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. He also elaborated on the reform initiatives undertaken by the Interim Government and the preparations for the next general elections in February 2026.
Secretary Un shed light on Cambodia’s position on the ongoing armed conflicts along the border areas with Thailand. The two sides stressed the pressing need for return to dialogue and diplomacy in the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration agreed upon earlier this year.
The Bangladesh Secretary offered to host the next round of FOC in Dhaka toward the end of next year. He also shared the government’s active consideration of opening a full-fledged resident Mission in Phnom Penh. The Cambodian delegation at the meeting comprised nearly 40 officials representing various Ministries and agencies.
Following the FOC, Secretary Nazrul had a bilateral meeting with Eat Sophea, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They discussed a number of priority issues of mutual interest to sustain the momentum of bilateral relations. Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand and Cambodia was, among others, present at the meetings.
