Phnom Penh, 25 November 2024 – Samdech Rathsaphea Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the Cambodian National Assembly, met Monday with the Honourable Celmira Sacramento, President of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe.

During the meeting, Samdech Khuon Sudary thanked her Santomean counterpart for participating in the IPTP meeting and her commitment to establishing diplomatic relations with Cambodia. 

Samdech emphasized Cambodia's openness to cooperation and highlighted collaboration in various fields, including business, economics, and tourism, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Congratulating São Tomé and Príncipe for having a woman parliamentary speaker, Samdech Khuon Sudary noted the significance of women's representation in politics. She said Cambodia had seen an increase in women parliamentarians, rising from 5 percent in 1993 to nearly 20 percent in the current term.

President Sacramento expressed her desire for São Tomé and Príncipe to establish diplomatic relations with Cambodia, stressing the potential for women-to-women ties between the African and Asian countries.

Samdech Khuon Sudary expressed her hope for continued communication and collaboration, noting the global challenges faced by many nations – particularly developing countries – and stressing the need for unity and peace.

On Cambodia's history, Samdech Khuon Sudary mentioned the country's journey from the Pol Pot regime to its current state of peace and development, thanks to the Win-Win Policy of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate and former prime minister. She reiterated Cambodia's commitment to achieving upper middle-income status by 2030 and becoming a high-income nation by 2050.

Samdech Khuon Sudary conveyed best wishes from Cambodian leaders and people to the President, Prime Minister, and citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe. She also expressed her appreciation for the commitment shown by President Sacramento and her delegation, marking a new chapter in the relationship between the two nations.