• Politics

Cambodia-Japan Marks 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations

• By Meng Seavmey
• January 10, 2023 3:20 PM

PHNOM PENH – The year 2023 is a special one for Cambodia and Japan, marking 70 years of friendship and cooperation, with diplomatic ties being established in 1953.

Held on Jan. 9 at the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, the 70th anniversary of Cambodia-Japan diplomatic relationship was the occasion to broadcast messages from Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Cambodian leader Hun Sen and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn.

Taninai Ichitomo, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy, said that the relationship between the two countries has evolved continuously over the past seven decades.

He recalled the official visit of King Father Norodom Sihanouk in 1955, and the multiple bilateral ties between the two countries, especially in research, public scholarships to send Cambodian students to Japan, and the sending of numerous Japanese volunteers to Cambodia.

The deputy chief added that even though there had been a cut-off of several years due to the Khmer Rouge regime, both countries have come close again since 1980.

They both put efforts to accomplish the Paris Peace Agreement in 1991 and Japan sent peacekeeping staff to assist the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) putting Cambodia back on track with development through economic cooperation, investment in major infrastructures and supporting the work of local and international NGOs in the country.

“With Cambodia’s recent economic growth, we have been expanding the changes in various sectors, and both countries’ relations have deepened,” he said.

Among other things, Japan has been involved in building major transport infrastructure in the country (such as the aptly named Japanese Bridge linking Phnom Penh’s downtown to the Chroy Changvar peninsula), upgrading the capital city’s water treatment system, or restoring some Angkor temples in Siem Reap.

In terms of economic cooperation, relationships are also at their best. According to the preliminary statistic issued by the General Department of Customs and Excise, the trade volume of the two countries reached $1.9 billion in 2022, which represents an increase in bilateral trade by 12.3 percent compared to 2021.

With a series of official visits between the two sides’ leaders last year, Taninai Ichitomo said that Cambodia-Japan relations are now in the best state in history.

While the Japanese PM attended the ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh in November 2022, Hun Sen also traveled to Japan to pay his tribute to the late leader Shinzo Abe, who was murdered in the street in July.

Japan is looking forward to further cooperating with the Cambodian government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the people in both the public and private sectors.

Representing the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chea Kimtha, the ministry’s undersecretary of state, stressed once again the remarkable upcoming upgrade of the Cambodia-Japan relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. While it has been agreed upon by both countries in November 2022, it is due to be effective this year.

“We are planning to further cooperate with each other to arrange various meaningful events and good memories to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the two countries’ relationship,” Kimtha said.

Vann Bunna, the co-founder of The Thinker Cambodia think-tank, said the trustful friendship with Japan could be considered one of the most substantial for Cambodia.

“Japan contributed the most to helping Cambodia before Cambodia’s reliance on China grew – which has only been seen as growing a lot recently,” said Bunna.

Despite the fact that Japanese soft power in Cambodia is being overtaken by China, Japan remains committed to helping Cambodia regardless of the political situation denounced by many other Western countries, Bunna said.

In response, Cambodia’s decision to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a mark of support to its Japanese partner, Bunna added.

Cooperation and friendship have also made their way into the arts. The Japanese Goodwill Ambassador Yoko Minamino, a singer and actress, composed a song titled “Asu e no Niji”or “Rainbow for Tomorrow” to celebrate both countries’ relations. She hopes she will be able to come to Cambodia in February for a show.

A logo competition was also organized to celebrate the 70th anniversary of friendship. The winner is Sroeun Menglong, a senior student at the Royal University of Fine Arts, who designed a logo representing both countries’ national flowers, with seven rumduol and sakura flowers for every decade of cooperation between Cambodia and Japan.