Sri Lanka, Cambodia to enhance relations

At the invitation of Cambodian King His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath NORODOM SIHAMONI, President Maithripala Sirisena paid a state visit to Cambodia and agreed to enhance the cooperation between the two countries.   

According to a joint statement, the President of Sri Lanka laid wreaths at the Independence Monument and paid homage in memory of the great war heroes and heroines of Cambodia. He also paid tribute at the Royal Memorial of His Majesty the late King-Father of Cambodia, Preah Bat Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHANOUK PREAH BOROM RATANAK KAUDH.  
President Sirisena had an audience with the Cambodian King. The President attended a state banquet hosted in his honour by His Majesty the King at the Royal Palace, where he also met with Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, President of the Senate and Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly.  
The President also had a bilateral discussion with Samdach Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, during which both Leaders reaffirmed commitment to further deepen bilateral relations which are firmly supported by the cultural and religious affinity of the two nations.  

 Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen hailed the state visit of President Maithripala Sirisena as an important landmark and a great impetus driving the excellent ties between the two friendly countries to new heights. President Maithripala Sirisena termed Cambodia as a close friend and an important partner of Sri Lanka in the region. Both leaders also noted with satisfaction that Cambodia and Sri Lanka have developed a strong and mutually beneficial partnership at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels with a view to ushering peace, stability, and sustainable development of the two nations and the world.   

 Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen highly commended the achievements made by the Government of Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena in promoting sustainable development and social welfare of the country. President Maithripala Sirisena also lauded the continued success of the Cambodian Government in maintaining peace, stability, high economic growth, a robust tourism industry, and improvement in the quality of life of the Cambodian people, under the leadership of Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen.  
 The two leaders underscored the importance of the regular exchange of high-level visits and consultations to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in all feasible areas for the mutual benefits of both nations. Towards this end, the two leaders welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Consultations between foreign ministries of the two countries and expressed desire for the first meeting to be convened at the earliest.   

 The two leaders concurred to task the institutions concerned of both countries to work together in order to increase bilateral trade, investment, and tourism exchanges, and encouraged closer collaboration between the private sector of Cambodia and Sri Lanka in fully exploiting economic potentials and business opportunities of both countries. To this end, both leaders applauded the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and Colombo Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka.  

 Both leaders noted that Cambodia and Sri Lanka have great potentials in tourism and agreed to urge all relevant institutions to work closely together to organize joint promotional activities to increase tourism exchange, tapping into the rich cultural and natural heritage of both nations.  

Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena expressed satisfaction at the growing close relationship between Cambodian and Sri Lankan Buddhist communities, which they desire to be further encouraged by the relevant authorities of both countries.  

 Emphasizing the importance of education and human resource development for socio-economic development, the two leaders tasked the educational institutions of both countries to consider creating cooperation mechanisms and exchange programs.  

 The two leaders expressed commitment to enhance international cooperation and agreed that the representatives of both countries should collaborate more closely on various regional and international fora for peace, stability, security, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.  

President Sirisena and Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen exchanged views extensively on regional and international issues of common interest and concern, and following conclusion of their cordial discussions the two leaders witnessed the signing of two documents, namely: Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and Colombo Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka.  

Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen hailed the state visit of President Maithripala Sirisena as an important landmark and a great impetus driving the excellent ties between the two friendly countries to new heights. President Maithripala Sirisena termed Cambodia as a close friend and an important partner of Sri Lanka in the region