AKP Phnom Penh, July 16, 2025 --

High-ranking parliamentary officials from Cambodia and Türkiye met today to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 16th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus, hosted by Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

H.E. Vong Sauth, Second Vice President of the National Assembly of Cambodia and President of the Cambodia-Türkiye Parliamentary Friendship Group, extended a warm welcome to H.E. Osman Sağlam, a Member of Parliament and Head of the Turkish Parliamentary Delegation to AIPA.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the National Assembly, Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, H.E. Vong Sauth expressed his appreciation for Türkiye's participation in the AIPA Caucus, noting that it signifies the deepening ties between the two nations.

He highlighted his honour in serving the National Assembly during its 7th legislature in his current capacities and recalled leading a Cambodian parliamentary delegation to the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) meetings in 2023, where he met with H.E. Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, to further cement bilateral relations.

H.E. Vong Sauth underscored the consistent growth in Cambodia-Türkiye relations, emphasising the numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding signed across various sectors. He also noted the mutual support both countries provide each other in international forums, operating under both legislative and executive frameworks.

In response, H.E. Osman Sağlam conveyed his gratitude for the Cambodian National Assembly's hospitality and reiterated Türkiye's dedication to fostering robust bilateral relations. He pointed to the frequency of high-level visits and the shared commitment to boosting economic and trade cooperation as evidence of the strong bond between the two nations. He expressed optimism that bilateral trade volume would soon reach US$1 billion.

H.E. Osman Sağlam further stressed that enhanced collaboration between the two legislative bodies, both bilaterally and within the AIPA framework, would contribute to stronger overall relations. He highlighted Türkiye's cultural centre in Cambodia, established to promote cooperation in education and cultural diplomacy, and the Turkish Maarif Foundation, which is expected to further reinforce bilateral ties. He sought Cambodia’s continued support for these initiatives.

In closing, H.E. Vong Sauth extended his gratitude to the Government of Türkiye for its ongoing support and development assistance to Cambodia. He specifically cited contributions in fields such as education, healthcare, flood relief, demining, and housing for the underprivileged, provided through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) since 2009.

By K. Rithy Reak