Cambodia Seeks Closer Ties with Georgia and Cyprus

PHNOM PENH, Sept 18, 2026 (KPT) – Acting Head of State Samdech Techo Hun Sen has separately received the newly appointed ambassadors of Georgia and Cyprus, with talks focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation, officials said Friday. Samdech Techo met Georgia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Irakli Asashvili and Cyprus’s Ambassador Koula Sophianou at the Samakum Reachea Building in Phnom Penh on Sept 17. Senate spokesman Chea Thyrith said Samdech Techo Hun Sen, acting on behalf of King Norodom Sihamoni, welcomed and congratulated both envoys on their appointments. During his meeting with Asashvili, Samdech Hun Sen expressed hope the ambassador’s mission would further strengthen ties between Cambodia and Georgia. Asashvili thanked Samdech Techo for the audience and pledged to promote bilateral relations, noting progress already made. Samdech Techo said geographical distance should not prevent the two countries from developing mutually beneficial cooperation and encouraged identifying new areas for collaboration. In a separate meeting with Sophianou, Samdech Techo Hun Sen voiced hope her posting would advance relations with Cyprus. Sophianou said she would work to strengthen cooperation, particularly in culture, people‑to‑people exchanges and the economy. Samdech Hun Sen highlighted trade and investment as important areas for expanding ties and urged both sides to explore opportunities to increase economic cooperation. Officials said the two meetings form part of Cambodia’s broader diplomatic engagement with European and international partners as Phnom Penh seeks to expand cooperation across multiple sectors. Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s audiences with the ambassadors underscore Cambodia’s efforts to reinforce bilateral relations while diversifying partnerships beyond its immediate region.