[Belarus said:] We will be friends with Cambodia

Belarus is ready to consider any proposals for cooperation with Cambodia.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko said as he met with a parliamentary delegation of the Kingdom of Cambodia led by Chairman of the National Assembly of Cambodia's Parliament Heng Samrin.

“We know what your country has experienced difficult times, and we are happy that you have achieved stability. This makes a good basis for cooperation with other states,” the Speaker said.

Vladimir Andreichenko said that, unfortunately, Cambodia and Belarus do not have diplomatic missions in the territories of each other. They also lack the legal framework of bilateral relations. However, he expressed hope that the visit of the delegation to Belarus will help build a model of further relations between the countries.

Last year was productive for relations between parliaments of Belarus and Cambodia, according to Vladimir Andreichenko. At present, it is necessary to develop relations within international organizations such as the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement. “You can assist us with, for example, establishing links with ASEAN member states,” he said.

“We welcome the establishment of the friendship group on cooperation with Belarus in the Parliament of Cambodia. In the near future the Belarusian Parliament will set up a working group on cooperation with MPs of your country,” informed Vladimir Andreichenko.

During the visit the Cambodian delegation is scheduled to meet with top-ranking officials of Belarus. In particular, the parties are expected to discuss the ways of boosting business ties between the countries, cooperation in international organizations, including the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, bearing in mind Cambodia's ASEAN chairmanship this year. Besides, the Cambodian MPs will visit the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Minsk Tractor Works to further practical cooperation.

Direct trade and economic relations between Belarus and Cambodia are almost non-existent today. In 2007-2009 the bilateral trade was made of imports solely because of the unstable political situation in Cambodia and a long distance between the two countries. With this, Belarusian industrial goods including dual-use products come to Cambodia via Vietnam.

Cambodia is developing deposits of minerals. Belarus has every chance to supply its dump trucks and tyres to that market. Development of deposits (iron ore, copper, wolframite, marganese and bauxite) in Cambodia is done by foreign companies from China, Vietnam, Australia and Korea.