New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met visiting Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and conveyed India’s resolve to strengthen the bilateral partnership with Cambodia across diverse areas including capacity building.
PM Modi called on the Cambodian King at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the evening.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi and King Sihamoni underscored the deep civilizational ties, strong cultural and people-to-people connect between both countries, a statement said.
“Prime Minister Modi assured His Majesty of India’s resolve to strengthen the bilateral partnership with Cambodia across diverse areas including capacity building. His Majesty thanked the Prime Minister for India’s ongoing initiatives in development cooperation, and conveyed his appreciation and best wishes for India’s Presidency of G-20,” it said.
The two leaders also discussed bilateral ties and ways to advance the partnership in capacity building, tourism, culture and defence among other things.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said:
“Providing a filip to India-Cambodia ties.
PM @narendramodi held a warm meeting with H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni.
“Reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to advance India-Cambodia partnership in domains of capacity building, human resource development, tourism, culture and defence. Also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues.”
Later, King Sihamoni met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The President’s House in a tweet said:
“A warm welcome to an honored guest from a civilisational sister country!
“President Droupadi Murmu received King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hosted a banquet in his honour. The President said that the visit of King Sihamoni demonstrates the importance that Cambodia attaches to its ties with India.”
“Welcoming King Sihamoni on his first visit to India, the President said that his visit demonstrates the importance that Cambodia attaches to its ties with India. She said that India and Cambodia share a rich and vibrant relationship. We value our shared history, and consider Cambodia as our civilizational sister country.
“The President noted that there is great potential for further growth in trade and investment between India and Cambodia. She said that India is keen to further elevate its defence relations with Cambodia. She also emphasised on the need to make efforts to increase tourism and people-to-people contacts for further elevating bilateral relations between the two countries.
“The President said that India in its presidency of G-20 has been spearheading the interest of developing countries of the Global South. She appreciated the participation of Prime Minister Hun Sen in the inaugural session of the Voice of Global South Summit in February this year. She congratulated Cambodia for successfully completing the Chairmanship of ASEAN last year.
“Subsequently, in her banquet speech, the President said that India is privileged to partner Cambodia on its quest for nation building through capacity building, development of human resources, and providing assistance for socio-economic projects. She said that India is a believer in the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means The World Is One Family. She added that the multifaceted ties between India and Cambodia, and the august presence of His Majesty at Rashtrapati Bhavan with us today, are beautiful expressions of this age-old concept,” a statement said.
Earlier in the day, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar held a bilateral meeting with the Cambodian King during which they held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest.
The Vice President’s Office in a tweet said that the VP also recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for the India-Asean summit last year.
“Hon’ble Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar met with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia and recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for India-ASEAN and East Asia Summits in November 2022. They had wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest.”
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said the discussions covered capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation including de-mining and parliamentary cooperation
“VP Jagdeep Dhankhar @VPIndia met H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia during latter’s State visit to India.
“Discussions covered multiple areas of bilateral relations including capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation including de-mining & parliamentary cooperation.”
EAM S Jaishankar also called on the Cambodian King earlier in the day.
“Honoured to call on King HM Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia.
“His visit, as our two countries celebrate 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, reaffirms the strong civilizational bond between us.
“Today that is expressed in cooperation in heritage conservation, demining, water conservation and socio-economic projects.”
India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building & human resource development through training slots under the ITEC and scholarships under ICCR. India has also extended grants and concessional loans for developmental projects. Conservation and restoration of the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Preah Vihar are being carried out under GoI funding.
India has extended a grant of USD 1.5 million for purchase of demining equipment and has offered a line of credit worth USD 50 million Line of Credit for procurement of defence equipment from India. Customised training courses are conducted for Cambodian Army personnel in India and Mobile Training Teams from Indian Army have been deployed to Cambodia for training Cambodian Army personnel.
Trade between the two countries for FY 2023-23 stood at USD 366 million and is growing. Indian investments in Cambodia are estimated around USD 115 million primarily in pharmaceuticals, automobiles and mining.
India and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1952.
The visit by the King to India comes after nearly six decades. The last visit to India was by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1963, the present King’s father.
Earlier in the morning, the King was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, after which he visited Rajghat to lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi.
UNI RN