Cambodia, South Korea elevate ties to strategic partnership

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korea and Cambodia elevated their relationship Thursday to a strategic partnership during a summit in Seoul with President Yoon Suk-yeol and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet.

The announcement was made "with full confidence in the future of the bilateral partnership," reflecting the acknowledgment that diplomatic ties have significantly strengthened in the past few decades, according to a joint statement.

"Since the reestablishment of relations in 1997, the bilateral ties have greatly improved," Yoon said in opening remarks at the summit.

He noted that trade "rose 20-fold, people-to-people exchanges grew 150-fold, and Korea rose to the country with the second-largest investment in Cambodia.

"Moreover, some 10,000 multicultural families have bound the two countries together," he said.

"In response to the diplomatic breakthrough, our establishment of a strategic partnership holds great significance," Yoon stressed.

Yoon and Manet aimed to enhance economic development cooperation in Cambodia and envisioned an increase in Korean participation in infrastructure construction projects within the country.

The announcement was formalized with the signing of six documents after talks at the presidential office in Seoul.

Manet arrived in South Korea on Wednesday for a four-day visit.