Cambodia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have pledged to strengthen bilateral ties, focusing on potential expansion in tourism and security.
The discussion took place during a meeting between Prime Minister Hun Manet and SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, held from June 17–18.
Yermekbayev expressed satisfaction with the close cooperation between the two sides, highlighting the SCO’s role in deploying election observers to monitor Cambodia’s 2023 polls.
Prime Minister Hun Manet commended the SCO’s engagement, noting that the presence of international observers bolstered the credibility of Cambodia’s democratic processes. He expressed confidence that the SCO would continue to support upcoming electoral cycles, including the 2027 commune/Sangkat council elections and the 2028 National Assembly elections.
Regarding tourism, Yermekbayev announced that the SCO intends to invite Cambodia to an upcoming tourism event in Hainan, China. The forum is designed to allow Cambodia to present its investment and tourism potential to international government officials and private sector leaders.
On security, Prime Minister Hun Manet said that close coordination is essential to addressing regional challenges.
He noted that the SCO has established specialised mechanisms to combat transnational crime, human trafficking and cybercrime.
Both sides agreed that improved information exchange and the sharing of best practices will enhance their effectiveness in addressing emerging security threats. AKP
