Cambodia ready to export rice to PH
Cambodia is ready to export rice to the Philippines that will come from its surplus as part of the two countries' efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
Phnom Penh's commitment came as Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Flerida Ann Camille Mayo paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Manet on July 16, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Their meeting focused on the two countries' mutual interests, including economic partnerships, defense and security engagements, and people-to-people ties, DFA said.
"With an annual Cambodian rice surplus of about six million tons, Prime Minister Hun Manet reiterated his country’s readiness to export rice and other agricultural products to the Philippines," the DFA said.
"He sought broader people-to-people exchanges through stronger air connectivity between major tourist destinations of both countries," it added.
Meanwhile, Mayo said the Philippines is ready to work with Cambodia on law enforcement, particularly through jointly developing standard arrangements for the rescue and repatriation of Filipino victims of human trafficking and cyber scam operations within the ambit of the existing Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Combating Transnational Crime.
Both sides also concurred that the Philippines and Cambodia's common values of bayanihan ("samaki" in Khmer), and a rules-based order could underpin the pursuit of mutual interests and contribute to ASEAN community building.
"The Philippine Embassy will continue to perform its level best in the service of Philippines-Cambodia relations and ASEAN solidarity," Mayo told the Cambodian leader.