President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. affirmed that the Philippines will persist in its efforts to build stronger connections with Cambodia and improve the relationship between the two countries.

“I hope we can continue this. We will foster this relationship and continue to improve the relationship that we have had for many, many years,” President Marcos said.

The two countries have upheld friendly relations since the resumption of diplomatic ties in 1995.

The President emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue and cooperation with Cambodia and other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

President Marcos welcomed Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea to Malacañang. He is in the country to co-chair the 4th Cambodia-Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, at the invitation of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo.

The two-day meeting aims to review the progress of agreements made at the 3rd Cambodia-Philippines JCBC meeting in December 2021.

This is Sok Chenda Sophea's first official bilateral visit to an ASEAN country as the head of delegation and Cambodian Foreign Minister since 2017.