Phnom Penh — On the afternoon of Monday, October 13, 2025, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia, granted an audience to H.E. TANAKA Akihiko, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for a courtesy call and working discussion at the Senate Palace.
According to H.E. Chea Thireth, Spokesperson for the Senate, during the meeting, Samdech Techo Hun Sen extended a warm welcome to H.E. TANAKA Akihiko and his colleagues on their visit to Cambodia. Samdech expressed his delight at meeting H.E. Tanaka again, ten years after their last encounter in 2015 when H.E. Tanaka visited the Kingdom of Cambodia for the inauguration of the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge, Neak Loeung. Samdech Techo expressed hope that H.E. Tanaka’s renewed presence in Cambodia would allow him to witness the nation’s development and progress, particularly through Japan’s crucial support for infrastructure development in the country.
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On this occasion, H.E. TANAKA Akihiko also expressed his pleasure at meeting Samdech Techo again and noted that the ten years since their last meeting seemed to have passed very quickly. H.E. Tanaka acknowledged the transformation of the Kingdom of Cambodia and praised the nation’s ongoing development and progress. H.E. Tanaka highlighted Cambodia’s role in contributing to international efforts, particularly its cooperation with the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) in demining activities abroad. He also reiterated JICA’s role in supporting Cambodia’s infrastructure development, including the construction of the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge (Chroy Changvar), the Kizuna Bridge, the Neak Loeung Bridge, assistance to Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, and the improvement of several national roads, such as National Road 1 and National Road 5.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his delight at H.E. Tanaka’s keen interest in Samdech’s role when he was Prime Minister. Samdech Techo also spoke about JICA’s significant contribution to Cambodia’s overall development, and Japan’s role in assisting Cambodia throughout the years. Samdech Techo stressed that Cambodia’s progress is inseparable from Japan’s contributions, which include its participation in bringing peace to Cambodia and its role in national development.
Samdech Techo shared several perspectives concerning his vision, recalling the historical context and his struggle to liberate the nation from the genocidal regime, bringing Cambodia to full peace at the end of 1998, and ensuring the country’s subsequent, continuous development. Furthermore, Samdech Techo also briefed the JICA President on the situation at the Cambodia-Thailand border, affirming Cambodia’s firm stance on resolving the issue through peaceful means and achieving a return to normalcy. Samdech Techo also discussed the volume of trade between Cambodia and Japan, suggesting both countries should promote it further, and emphasizing JICA’s potential role in contributing to expanding relations across many key sectors between Cambodia and Japan.
H.E. TANAKA Akihiko expressed his pleasure and gratitude to Samdech Techo for sharing the history of his struggle to bring peace and progress to Cambodia. H.E. Tanaka also highlighted plans for expanding cooperation that JICA intends to pursue with the Royal Government of Cambodia. Regarding the border issue, H.E. Tanaka expressed hope that both sides would be able to reach a peaceful resolution in the near future, allowing the relationship between the two countries to return to normalcy.
Finally, Samdech Techo Hun Sen wished H.E. TANAKA Akihiko and his colleagues a successful visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia.