Cambodia, Timor-Leste Discuss Tourism Cooperation Promotion

Phnom Penh, August 29, 2023 --

Cambodia and Timor-Leste have discussed potential opportunities for collaboration in promoting tourism and facilitating travel for tourists between the two countries.

The discussion took place between H.E. Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism and H.E. Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste here in Phnom Penh on Aug. 28.

According to a press releases of the Ministry of Tourism, during the meeting, H.E. Sok Soken expressed his appreciation for the government of Timor-Leste's unwavering commitment to the deepening of bilateral relations between the two countries since the time of Cambodian former Prime Minister, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, and under the leadership of newly-appointed Prime Minister, H.E. Kitti Tesaphibal Pundit Hun Manet.

The minister also expressed his readiness to work with Timor-Leste to organise tourism activities and exchange officials to enhance cooperation in the tourism industry.

H.E. Francisco Kalbuadi Lay congratulated the Royal Government of Cambodia's recent election's success, expressed satisfaction over the good relations between the two countries, and highlighted the efforts made to strengthen and deepen the relations and cooperation between the two nations. Particularly, he also recalled the significance of the officials visit of Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Aug. 19-20, 2016 to Timor-Leste which opened up the path to many major areas of cooperation including tourism.

The Timor-Leste DPM also reaffirmed the Timorese people's willingness to visit Cambodia and said that deepening tourism cooperation between the two countries is essential to realising the goal.

The two sides expressed their commitment to further elevate tourism cooperation by expediting the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation between Cambodia and Timor-Leste, aiming to promote cultural and economic exchange, build stronger people-to-people connection, and foster greater mutual benefits and trust between the two countries.