Cambodian PM urges for tourism, agriculture cooperation with Maldives

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday that the country wanted to see cooperation with Maldives in tourism and agriculture for the interests of the two countries and peoples.

The premier made the remarks during a meeting with Maldives ex- President Mohamed Waheed Hassan at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

He said currently, the relations between the two countries are still relatively small in all fields, so it is essential to seek possibilities for bilateral cooperation, particularly in tourism and agriculture.

He said Cambodian tourism and agriculture are among the four pillars supporting the economy. The country received 4.2 million inbound tourists last year, up 17 percent year-on-year.

In agriculture, he said Cambodia has more than 3 million tons of milled rice left over for annual exports.

The premier said he would arrange a proper time to visit Maldives in the future.

For his part, Mohamed Waheed Hassan said tourism is the engine of growth for Maldives, so he expressed his confidence that the two countries would have plenty of opportunities for cooperation.

He said it was his first visit to Cambodia and he was pleased to witness the rapid development in Cambodia.

Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. The country's economy is heavily dependent on tourism, accounting for an estimated 80 percent of its 2.3 billion US dollars GDP last year.

Sourced: globaltimes