Earlier today, thousands of my fellow citizens gathered peacefully at the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh to commemorate 70 years of Cambodia’s independence from France. This year, our celebrations take on even greater importance as Cambodia is led by new leadership through a young and capable leadership led by Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Hun Manet’s leadership provides unique opportunities for the United States to engage more deeply with my country and foster a relationship that can benefit other people and countries, while contributing to regional peace, stability, and development.
Cambodia’s strategic location in Southeast Asia makes it a major player in the region. Historically, the country has undergone major political and social transformations, in addition to the brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge regime, in which more than 3 million Cambodians were killed between 1975 and 1979. and the reconstruction efforts that followed. Today, Cambodia is making wonderful strides in building it up as a solid and immensely wealthy country.
Cambodia, once one of the poorest countries in the world, has negligible unemployment, with only 16% of the population living below the poverty line, and average life expectancy is just 77 years. We are on our way to becoming an upper-middle-income country. Successive governments have consistently worked to adopt policies and expand infrastructure that inspire investment and create sustainable jobs, prioritizing skills, infrastructure, clean water, energy, and technology. Access to education and physical care is expanding rapidly, funded through an expanding tax base. supported through tourism and foreign investment. In fact, Cambodia has enjoyed a long era of peace, political stability, and economic expansion for about 40 years.
Less than three months into Prime Minister Hun Manet’s administration, the United States has every reason to be optimistic. First, Cambodia has a young, dynamic, modern and practical leader, who knew the United States and the United Kingdom well and graduated from the West Point Military Academy. Hun Manet leads a government that strives to maintain Cambodia’s hard-won peace and stability, while focusing on education, health, science and technology, and expanding domestic and foreign investment. It implements policies that highlight Cambodia’s importance as a regional hub for Southeast Asia and beyond, while seeking to deepen economic and political relations with the United States and nations that are the world’s most important investors. Cambodia is improving its transportation networks, energy capacities, and trade sectors, while becoming a more viable partner for the United States in the broader context of regional stability and economic integration.
Indeed, Cambodia has demonstrated welcome pragmatism in its foreign relations. Cambodia is a staunch defender of the Charter of the United Nations, as evidenced by its unwavering support for Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia. It is vital that countries recognize and respect Cambodia’s autonomy in order to make possible diplomatic options consistent with its goals of progress.
Cambodia’s developing economy provides opportunities for American corporations. Ford Motors is building a $21 million assembly plant in Cambodia’s Pursat province. Coca-Cola, Cisco Systems, General Electric, DHL, FedEx, Citibank, Marriott, Caterpillar and many American corporations already have a presence here. The United States can do more to enter this emerging market, expand its industrial relationship, and inspire American investment.
The United States is held in the highest esteem by the Cambodian people. We need to expand our positive engagement with the United States through more discussion and collaboration based on acceptance as truth and mutual benefit. By focusing on shared values and economic opportunities, and by working in concert to address regional challenges, the United States can build a constructive relationship with Cambodia that advances its own interests while contributing to stability and progress in the Asia and the Pacific region.
His Excellency Keo Chhea is the Ambassador of Cambodia to the United States.
The perspectives expressed in this article are those of the author.
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