Prak Sokhonn, First Vice President of the Senate, received ÜLKÜ KOCAEFE, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Cambodia, on April 30 to pay a courtesy call.
Sokhonn expressed his pleasure in meeting with the ambassador for the first time as the first vice president of the Senate. The Ambassador congratulated Prak Sokhonn on his election as First Vice President of the Senate and wished him even greater success in his new position.
The Ambassador said that the Senate has leaders who have a lot of ability and experience in leading foreign policy and parliamentary diplomacy, especially Prak Sokhonn and his colleagues, who have contributed significantly to the strengthening and expansion of relations between the two countries. She also noted that friendly relations and cooperation between Turkey and Cambodia have grown significantly in the last 15 years.
In response, Sokhonn said that both Cambodia and Turkey have good and close relations. He also noted with satisfaction the outcome of the working meeting between the Ambassador and Hun Sen, President of the Senate, and with Ouch Borith, Second Vice President of the Senate, both of which further contributed to strengthening diplomatic relations and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The First Vice President of the Senate also highlighted the priority goal of Hun Sen as President of the Senate: he wants to turn the Senate into an active diplomatic parliament. This year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He hopes that the two Cambodian and Turkish legislatures will have activities to celebrate the event.
ÜLKÜ KOCAEFE informed the First Vice President that the Turkish Embassy in Cambodia is planning to hold an exhibition of documents and images of relations between the two countries since 1959 to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Ambassador expressed her satisfaction and congratulations on the opening of the Turkish trade office and cultural centre in Cambodia.
She also thanked the Cambodian Parliament for supporting Turkey in becoming an IPA observer in the past. She also requested that Cambodia support Turkey as a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN and support the Maarif Foundation’s initiative to contribute to the development of education in Cambodia.