Cambodia and Singapore to Further Strengthen Cooperation in Education, Economy, Health, and Tourism

H.E. Mr. Steven Pang Chee Wee, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Singapore to the Kingdom of Cambodia, stated that he highly commends H.E. Mr. Khuong Sreng, Governor of Phnom Penh, as one of the strong leaders who have maintained security, development, and earned the love and respect of the people in the capital. Ambassador Steven Pang Chee Wee made these remarks on the morning of July 30, 2026, during a courtesy call with Governor Khuong Sreng at the Phnom Penh City Hall. Ambassador Steven Pang Chee Wee further stated that upon arriving in Phnom Penh, he was invited to many major events. At these events, both government officials and Cambodian leaders have consistently praised the Governor's leadership, describing him as a strong leader. The Ambassador added that through the Governor's work activities, which he has witnessed, it truly demonstrates his active leadership. Governor Khuong Sreng has personally engaged with citizens facing difficulties to understand their living conditions and well-being. Ambassador Steven Pang Chee Wee continued, "We will further strengthen the relationship and cooperation between the two countries to an even better level, in sectors such as education, economic development, health, and tourism." He noted that the current four daily flights between Singapore and Cambodia indicate increasingly vibrant people-to-people interactions. Ambassador Steven Pang Chee Wee also added that Cambodia is a "beautiful and colorful country," which is a significant attraction for tourism. He mentioned that previously, only Angkor Wat was widely known, but now Cambodia is recognized for having many attractive tourist destinations and a diverse cuisine. Regarding the tourism sector, Singaporean journalists have widely reported on Cambodia. Furthermore, the Ambassador himself has also promoted the positive aspects of Cambodia to Singapore, including maintaining security and attracting investors and tourists. Ambassador Steven Pang Chee Wee stated, "Businessmen and investors, the first thing they consider is safety." He has assured these businessmen and investors that Phnom Penh and Cambodia are peaceful and safe, as he has observed the efforts made by the Cambodian government and the Phnom Penh municipal authorities, especially in combating and cleaning up technological fraud crimes (ONLINE SCAMS). Specifically, he has seen the Governor of Phnom Penh take a firm stance in cracking down on these crimes. All these points are what he has conveyed and sent as a message to Singaporean citizens about the efforts of the Cambodian government and the Phnom Penh administration to ensure safety, particularly concerning the crackdown on ONLINE SCAMS, so that they can trust Cambodia when they visit. In response, H.E. Mr. Khuong Sreng, Governor of Phnom Penh, during the courtesy call, spoke about the general situation of Phnom Penh, especially the progress in all sectors in recent years. Governor Khuong Sreng continued, "The issue of ONLINE SCAMS is a complex problem, not just for Cambodia, but for the entire world. However, under the strong commitment of Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia must move towards a white economy. Therefore, Phnom Penh has been actively working to eradicate ONLINE SCAMS from its territory." Regarding the ONLINE SCAMS issue, the Ambassador also informed that Singapore is actively cooperating with countries in the ASEAN region, Japan, Korea, and South Africa on combating ONLINE SCAMS. For Cambodia, Singapore has trained many skilled police officers in this operational work, and the Ambassador has expressed a strong commitment to continue fully cooperating with the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Phnom Penh administration on this matter. Governor Khuong Sreng further stated that the Kingdom of Cambodia was among the first countries to recognize Singapore's independence after Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965. The Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Cambodia established diplomatic relations on August 10, 1965, but these were severed in 1975 and re-established on January 18, 1992.