On September 16, JICA Special Advisor Shinichi Kitaoka met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during his visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
At the beginning of the meeting, Special Advisor Kitaoka expressed his gratitude for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with Mr. Abe. He also expressed his deep appreciation for the heartfelt condolences of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the people of Cambodia, who mourned for a day after the passing of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and made a video in his honor.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, referring to former Prime Minister Abe’s relationship with Southeast Asia and Cambodia, thanked him for his great contribution to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Cambodia and Japan and to world peace and development, and said that he would attend his state funeral on September 27.
Prime Minister Hun Sen then spoke highly of Japan’s role in the peace negotiations in Cambodia and expressed his appreciation for Japan’s contribution to peace and development in Cambodia, including the five visits by Japanese Prime Ministers since the visit of former Prime Minister Obuchi to Cambodia in 2000. He also expressed his appreciation for JICA’s cooperation, referring to specific projects such as the National Highway Route 1 Rehabilitation Project, the Neaklung Bridge Construction Project, and the Mekong Bridge Construction Project.
Special Advisor Kitaoka introduced the JICA Chair’s Special Lecture (Meji Restoration: full-start of Japan’s Modernization), which he delivered at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations on September 15. He also mentioned the importance of peace and stability in the development of a nation, and the fact that the most outstanding human resources were working on the most important issues of the nation.
Special Advisor Kitaoka also expressed his support for the Cambodian government’s endorsement of the UN resolution condemning Russia, and stressed that in the current international situation, Japan needs to play a more active role in deepening solidarity with countries that share fundamental values such as freedom and the rule of law, especially in Southeast Asia. The meeting was attended by over 100 participants from the United States and Japan.
In closing, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his gratitude for the provision of vaccines to Cambodia by the four countries of Japan, the U.S., Australia, and India, and expressed hope for further strengthening of relations. The meeting covered a variety of topics and lasted well beyond the scheduled time.
© Source JICA