Cambodia backs Bangladesh's ASEAN dialogue partner bid

Cambodia has reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh's bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner, underlining the importance of sustained engagement with ASEAN during the first-ever Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries.

The assurance was conveyed at the inaugural Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Phnom Penh in a cordial and constructive atmosphere between delegations led by Bangladesh Foreign Ministry Secretary (Bilateral) Dr Md Nazrul Islam and Cambodian Secretary of State Un Kheang, said a press release in Dhaka on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Cambodia emphasised the primacy of ASEAN centrality and advised Bangladesh to pursue continued collective and bilateral engagement with the regional bloc. Bangladesh, in turn, sought Cambodia's support for its interest in joining the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic partnership (RCEP).

The FOC was convened following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2020 during a bilateral Joint Commission meeting in Dhaka. Discussions covered the full spectrum of bilateral relations, stressing the need to activate existing agreements and memorandums of understanding.

Both sides noted steady growth in bilateral trade and agreed to deepen business-to-business engagement, deciding to convene the first Joint Trade Council meeting in Phnom Penh next year. Bangladesh also proposed conducting a feasibility study on a potential free trade agreement, which Cambodia acknowledged as timely in view of both countries' upcoming graduation from the least developed country category.

Cambodia highlighted that more than 1,100 Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products are registered in its market and proposed forming a joint working group to enhance cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, including regulatory capacity building.

Bangladesh expressed interest in investment opportunities in rice and cashew nut processing in Cambodia under buy-back arrangements. The two sides also agreed to convene meetings of joint working groups on agriculture and aquaculture in the near future.

The Bangladesh delegation thanked Cambodia for hosting Bangladeshi migrant workers in the construction and readymade garment sectors, while both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration and jointly combating trafficking in persons and online fraud.

They also acknowledged the need to conclude an Air Services Agreement to facilitate direct flights and explored opportunities for developing joint tourism products to strengthen people-to-people contacts.

Dr Nazrul briefed the Cambodian side on the Rohingya humanitarian crisis and outlined reform initiatives undertaken by Bangladesh's interim government, including preparations for the next general elections scheduled for February 2026.

Both sides stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy to address regional tensions, while Bangladesh offered to host the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka late next year and indicated active consideration of opening a resident mission in Phnom Penh.