New Delhi, 24 March (H.S.):

India’s Secretary (East) P Kumaran has completed an official three‑day visit to Cambodia aimed at reinforcing the country’s Act East policy and the Indo‑Pacific vision through enhanced bilateral ties. Between 21 and 23 March, Kumaran held wide‑ranging discussions with senior Cambodian officials on how to broaden and strengthen cooperation in political, economic, commercial, defence, security, development, people‑to‑people, cultural and connectivity domains.

During his stay in Phnom Penh, Kumaran held a bilateral dialogue with Cambodia’s Secretary of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Un Khiang, where the two sides reviewed progress in all areas of cooperation and agreed to explore new avenues for engagement. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, underlining the importance of coordination in multilateral forums and on shared concerns in the Indo‑Pacific.

The Ministry of External Affairs said both sides expressed satisfaction with the trajectory of bilateral relations and committed to making the partnership more practical and forward‑looking.

On 23 March, Kumaran called on Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn for a courtesy meeting and discussed the full spectrum of India–Cambodia cooperation, including trade, investment, development assistance, connectivity, digital infrastructure and defence collaboration. He also met Cambodia’s Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Phoeurng Sackona, to review the progress of Indian‑supported cultural projects, including the ongoing conservation and restoration work at heritage sites in the country.

Cambodia remains a key node in India’s Act East policy and an important partner in the Global South, the ministry noted in a statement.

The visit also included outreach to Cambodian students and alumni. In Phnom Penh, the Secretary (East) interacted with ICCR scholarship recipients and former participants of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, highlighting the role of capacity‑building and people‑to‑people links in deepening the strategic relationship.

Later, during a trip to Siem Reap, Kumaran visited the Asian Traditional Textile Museum and the Ta Prohm temple complex, two sites that are part of Indian‑funded conservation and restoration projects. These initiatives symbolise India’s long‑standing cultural and developmental engagement with Cambodia and underscore the blend of heritage, connectivity and soft power at the heart of the Act East framework.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar