AKP Phnom Penh, February 02, 2026 —

Cambodia and Pakistan have committed to deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation, with Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen advocating for the establishment of a formal Cambodian embassy in Islamabad to bolster bilateral relations.

The announcement followed high-level talks on Monday between Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Pakistan’s Senate Honourable Chairman, Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani, at the Senate’s Solidarity Palace. H.E. Gillani is currently on a four-day (Feb. 2-5) official visit to the Kingdom.

A key outcome of the meeting was Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s support for opening a Cambodian embassy in Pakistan. He noted that Pakistan was among the first nations to recognise Cambodia’s sovereignty, establishing ties on May 28, 1952—a year before Cambodia gained independence from France.

"The recognition from Pakistan in 1952 is a significant historical gesture that Cambodia remembers and values," Samdech Techo Hun Sen was quoted as saying by Senate Spokesperson H.E. Chea Thyrith.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the secretariats of their respective Senates, aimed at institutionalising legislative cooperation.

On the economic front, both sides acknowledged that current trade remains under-leveraged. Despite strong political ties, bilateral trade stood at approximately US$53 million in 2025.

Both leaders urged their respective governments to explore new avenues for investment and economic exchange.

Plans were discussed to enhance people-to-people connectivity, specifically focusing on boosting tourism flows between the two nations.

Chairman Gillani, making his third visit to Cambodia since 2019, praised the Kingdom's "successful and stable" leadership transition. He previously visited in 2023 as an international election observer.

During the exchange, H.E. Gillani extended an official invitation to Samdech Techo Hun Sen to visit Pakistan. The Cambodian Senate President accepted the invitation, with a schedule to be determined at a later date.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also took the opportunity to congratulate Pakistan on successfully hosting the International Parliamentarians’ Congress (IPC) last November, noting that such events continue to elevate Pakistan’s international standing.

By K. Rithy Reak