PUTRAJAYA: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet who is on a one-day official visit to Malaysia, met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim here on Tuesday to discuss bilateral ties between the two countries.
This is Hun Manet's maiden visit to Malaysia since his appointment as Cambodia's Prime Minister in August 2023.
Hun Manet was received by Anwar at Perdana Putra, which houses the Prime Minister's Office, at about 10.15 am.
The Cambodian Prime Minister was accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Square, here, before the national anthems of Malaysia and Cambodia were played.
Hun Manet then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 106 officers and men of the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.
Also present to welcome Hun Manet were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, and several cabinet ministers.
The two leaders were then ushered to Level Three of the Perdana Putra building here to begin their bilateral meeting, where several memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed, followed by a joint press conference.
Wisma Putra in a statement today said during the official visit, Hun Manet would be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea, Cabinet Ministers and senior officials of the Government of Cambodia.
Hun Manet will have an audience with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia at Istana Negara.
During the bilateral meeting, both leaders are expected to focus on the progress of ongoing bilateral relations, particularly cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture and commodities, the halal industry, energy, security, information and communication, as well as Malaysia's role in the socio-economic development of the Muslim community in Cambodia.
Both leaders would also witness the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Financial Innovation and Payment Systems between the Central Bank of Malaysia and the National Bank of Cambodia.
Hun Manet is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Dewan Negara President Senator Datuk Mutang Tagal and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Dr Johari Abdul.
This official visit would further add value to closer relations between Malaysia and Cambodia, bilaterally and within the framework of ASEAN, said Wisma Putra.
Cambodia was one of the earliest nations to establish diplomatic relations with Malaysia in 1957. In 2023, Cambodia ranked as Malaysia's 9th largest trading partner in the ASEAN region.
The value of bilateral trade between Malaysia and Cambodia stood at RM3.02 billion, with exports from Malaysia to Cambodia valued at RM2.35 billion, representing a 1.6 per cent increase from the previous year.
Malaysian companies have implemented 162 projects in Cambodia, with investments totalling RM14.4 billion. – BERNAMA