Sihanoukville Television, September 9 — Yesterday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Phnom Penh. Their joint statement reaffirmed deeper defence and security cooperation, with a focus on transnational crime, particularly the growing problem of telecom and online scams.
At their joint press conference, Hun Manet said cooperation would expand through capacity building, joint training and military exchanges. Cambodia and the Philippines would work together against cross-border offences, especially telecom and online fraud, strengthening information sharing and law-enforcement coordination.
The leaders witnessed three cooperation documents covering transnational crime including online scams, higher education and aviation. Both sides pledged closer cooperation and coordination among enforcement agencies for swift and effective joint responses.
Hun Manet announced that Cambodia would host the fifth meeting of the Cambodia-Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in 2026 and promote regular bilateral mechanisms to review and advance regional cooperation. He reaffirmed full support for the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship and willingness to advance ASEAN unity and centrality together.
Marcos said the Philippines values its strategic partnership with Cambodia and wants to open new areas of cooperation. Both face human trafficking, cybercrime and cross-border security threats and have agreed to implement cross-border institutional frameworks for faster and more effective joint responses.
Marcos said sustainable economic and social development depends on close cooperation in trade, agriculture, renewable energy and the digital economy. More than 7,000 Filipinos work in Cambodia, contributing to education, healthcare and social development and linking the countries culturally.
Hun Manet thanked the Filipino community for its longstanding socioeconomic contributions and welcomed more Filipinos as tourists, investors and business partners. He said relations rest on mutual respect and shared interests and have deepened in defence, security, trade, investment and exchanges. Both will continue addressing regional and global challenges together.
Cambodia and the Philippines established diplomatic relations in 1957 and restored them in 1992. Since then, ties have developed across economics, security, education, health, labour, agriculture, trade, science, technology and the environment.
Compiled by this station.
