Turkey to enhance diplomatic ties with Cambodia

Souce:Xinhua 
Publish By Thomas Whittle
Updated 13/03/2013 

PHNOM PENH, March 12 — Turkey is willing to establish an embassy residence in Cambodia in order to promote bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, the newly- designated ambassador of Turkey to Cambodia, Osman Bulent Tulun said Tuesday.

The Bangkok-based ambassador unveiled the plan during a meeting with President of Cambodia’s National Assembly Heng Samrin.

The permanent residence in Phnom Penh will be easier for Turkey to strengthen and expand bilateral ties with Cambodia, especially in economics, trade, tourism and education, the ambassador said without specifying the exact date towards the embassy establishment.

He also pledged to increase scholarship to Cambodian students to study in Turkey.

Meanwhile, Heng Samrin spoke highly of good relationship and cooperation between Cambodia and Turkey, saying that the two countries should create closer ties in trade and tourism for mutual benefits.

The two countries’ bilateral trade is relatively small. According to the record of Cambodia’s Commerce Ministry, the total trade volume was only 6 million U.S. dollars last year.

On tourism side, some 3,400 Turkish visitors came to Cambodia last year, up 4 percent year-on-year, said a tourism report.