Prime Minister Hun Manet announced yesterday that he will travel to Jakarta to celebrate the swearing-in of Prabowo Subianto as the new President of Indonesia on October 20.
Mr Hun Manet and First Lady, Pich Chanmony, hosted a gathering yesterday with grandparents and students from the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) and the Organisation for the Smile of Children (PSE) in Meanchey district, Phnom Penh.
Both organisations support vulnerable children, youth, and impoverished families by providing food, healthcare, education, and vocational training.
At the ceremony, he noted that October 20, 1977, is his birthday; however, this year he will not be able to celebrate it due to his commitments in Indonesia.
“I will be in Indonesia to congratulate Prabowo Subianto on his inauguration as President,” he said. Therefore, he chose to celebrate his birthday in advance by preparing food for the grandparents and students at this event.
Thong Mengdavid, a geopolitical analyst and professor at the Institute of International Relations and Public Policy at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, believes that Mr Hun Manet’s visit to Indonesia underscores the strong relationship between Cambodia and Indonesia. He sees it as part of efforts to bolster bilateral ties and regional cooperation.
Mengdavid stated that the visit aims to enhance diplomatic relations, strengthen trade partnerships, and address regional challenges in areas such as security and economic development. Indonesia has played an important role in providing military assistance and extensive training to the Cambodian army.
In September, Prabowo visited Cambodia when he won the election.
Yang Peou, Secretary General of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, noted that Cambodia and Indonesia have maintained strong relations since the era of King Father Norodom Sihanouk. He highlighted that both countries are founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and Indonesia has co-chaired the Paris Agreement Conference to address the conflict in Cambodia.
He stated that the upcoming visit by Mr Hun Manet further reflects the positive relations between the two nations.
On March 20, Mr Hun Manet sent a congratulatory message to Prabowo, who won the February 14, 2024, presidential election. In his letter, he expressed heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Government and the people of Cambodia for Prabowo’s landslide victory, which reflects strong leadership and a commitment to ensuring progress and prosperity for all Indonesians.
He emphasised that Cambodia and Indonesia have a long history of friendship and cooperation in various areas, including politics, security, economy, and socio-cultural relations, which have rapidly developed over the past 65 years.
He looks forward to continuing the close collaboration with Prabowo in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks to strengthen the longstanding friendship and promote the common well-being and prosperity of their peoples, as well as peace, stability, and sustainable development regionally and globally.
Source: khmertimeskh