AKP Phnom Penh, September 10, 2025 — H.E. Dr. CHEA Chanboribo, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Bulgaria, held a courtesy meeting with H.E. Mr. Alexios Marios Liberopoulos, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic of Greece to Bulgaria, in Sofia on Sept. 10.

During the meeting, Ambassador CHEA Chanboribo expressed his honour in representing Cambodia to Greece, a nation he described as rich in cultural heritage, tourism, and agriculture. He reaffirmed the Royal Government of Cambodia's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation within multilateral frameworks, noting the steady growth of relations between the two countries under the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership.

Ambassador CHEA Chanboribo highlighted the potential for expanding cooperation, particularly in the tourism and trade sectors. 

He underscored the importance of diplomacy in fostering goodwill and understanding, highlighting the role of information and communications as a vital bridge between nations.

In a forward-looking proposal, he suggested establishing a student exchange programme to promote cultural and educational enrichment. He also expressed interest in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise tourism collaboration, which would facilitate reciprocal travel and joint tour packages.

In response, Ambassador Liberopoulos acknowledged the strong ties between Bulgaria and Greece, citing significant Greek business investments in Bulgaria. He also noted a recent increase in tourism to Greece, not only from Bulgaria but from other countries, following the expansion of the Schengen Area. 

He welcomed Ambassador CHEA Chanboribo's proposals, particularly the exploration of joint tourism initiatives, and expressed his willingness to assist with any matters related to the Greek Ministry of Tourism.

The meeting also touched on regional issues. Ambassador Liberopoulos acknowledged the concerns regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict and confirmed that diplomatic staff at the Greek Embassy in Bangkok are well-informed about the situation. 

Ambassador CHEA Chanboribo reiterated Cambodia's stance on resolving disputes through legal channels, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and emphasised that war is not an option for Cambodia. 

He expressed regret that Thailand had not honoured the ceasefire agreement reached on July 28 in Malaysia, thus continues to provoke incidents. Dr. CHEA Chanboribo also shared documents as well as the statements from Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts regarding the damaged of the Preah Vihear Temple, which Thai forces used in the conflict between Cambodia-Thailand against Cambodia.

Ambassador CHEA Chanboribo concluded the meeting by reaffirming his commitment to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and Greece. The meeting concluded with a gesture of goodwill, as Ambassador CHEA Chanboribo presented Ambassador Liberopoulos with a souvenir featuring Kroma, a traditional Cambodian scarves and herbal jasmine tea with organic Kampot pepper.

By K. Rithy Reak