AKP Phnom Penh, May 12, 2026 --

H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), received here on May 11 H.E. Steven Pang Chee Wee, newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Singapore to the Kingdom of Cambodia, and his colleague for a courtesy call and working discussion.

In the meeting, H.E. Ambassador highlighted the long-standing diplomatic relations and robust cooperation between the two nations, which have been nurtured since the reign of His Majesty the Late King-Father Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and continue to flourish today.

Within the first two months of his diplomatic mission, the Ambassador reported on his recent site visits to key provinces, including: (1) Preah Sihanouk province: to study the potential of port infrastructure, the expansion plans of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, and the establishment of modern logistics systems to bolster maritime trade, and (2) Koh Kong province (Sre Ambel): to observe wildlife conservation efforts and the development of biodiversity tourism, which serves as a model for balancing development and conservation.

Additionally, H.E. Ambassador highly commended the Royal Government of Cambodia's steadfast commitment to cracking down on and eliminating online scams. He noted that this is a global challenge requiring close regional cooperation to be addressed effectively.

For his part, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister extended a very warm welcome to H.E. Steven Pang Chee Wee on his diplomatic mission to Cambodia. He recalled his experiences and long-standing professional ties with Singapore, consistently regarding Singapore as a vital strategic partner.

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister provided updates on Cambodia’s socio-economic development plans, specifically highlighting: (1) Logistics and Transportation Enhancement: Improving multi-modal transport connectivity (land, water, sea, and air), including the development of logistics hubs to transform Cambodia into a key regional gateway, and (2) Institutional Strategy: The CDC’s roadmap aimed at implementing best practices and optimising internal operational efficiency.

Additionally, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister underscored the success of existing Singaporean investment in Cambodia. He encouraged the Ambassador to further facilitate and attract more Singaporean investors, particularly in the Halal Food Processing industry, which holds significant potential for both regional and global markets.

H.E. Sun Chanthol also took the opportunity to express his sincere appreciation to the Government of Singapore for its continuous support in human capital development through the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship, which remains a crucial factor in driving Cambodia’s sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Through this meeting, both parties expressed firm confidence that under the diplomatic mission of H.E. Steven Pang Chee Wee, the cooperation between Cambodia and Singapore will reach new heights – particularly in trade, investment, and infrastructure connectivity – delivering substantial economic benefits for both nations and contributing to regional stability and prosperity.
 

By Chea Vannak