The first session of the Bilateral Political Consultations between Cambodia and France took place on Monday, discussing a wide range of issues, including economic and political ties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said on Wednesday.

In the statement, the Ministry said that Bertrand Loryhoi-ary, Director for Asia and Oceania of France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had co-chaired the first session of Bilateral Political Consultations with Chem Widhya, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The first session comes after the Joint Declaration of Intent on the Establishment of a Mechanism for Bilateral Political Consultations between Cambodia and France which was signed on January 23.

The statement said that the two parties had reviewed the political, economic and social situation and exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations at the political, economic, educational and cultural levels.

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The statement added that the two countries agreed to further enhance trade relations and promote investment, partially taking advantage of the Regional Common Economic Partnership (RCEP), Cambodia’s dual French and English identities and the new Investment Law.

The Ministry said that the Cambodian government will also focus more in the field of science and technology in the future and on training between one and 1.5 million young people to become qualified in human resources in the coming years.

“In addition, both parties agreed on the vital importance of ASEAN-France relations, including the resumption of negotiations for a region-to-region free trade area between ASEAN and the European Union,” the Ministry said.

The Second Session of Bilateral Political Consultations will be held next year in Paris.

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