The afternoon sun was still blazing over Phnom Penh, but things were quiet inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Senior officials from Cambodia and Australia had gathered around the table for a bilateral consultation—another routine check-in for the two sides. Seated at opposite ends of the long table were Cambodian official Oun Khean and Michelle Chan, representing Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, flanked by various department reps and ambassadors.
Outside, the streets were buzzing with tuk-tuks, but inside the building, the talk was all business. According to local media, the meeting was mainly about bringing the two countries closer together. They sat down and went through a long list of areas: trade, investment, defense and security, all the way to agriculture, agro-processing, clean energy, and even demining efforts. Both sides seemed happy with how relations have gone over the last few years and were brainstorming new ways to team up.
Aside from economic ties, they also touched on regional security, including the latest developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border. During the meeting, Oun Khean reiterated that Cambodia remains committed to resolving border issues peacefully, following international rules and existing agreements. Looking ahead, with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations just around the corner, both sides agreed that the next round of talks in 2027 will be hosted in Australia.
