Political relations

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Cambodia were established on May 13, 1956. In December 1991, King Norodom Sihanouk announced the recognition of the Russian Federation as the successor state to the USSR.

The Soviet Union, and subsequently Russia, took an active part in unblocking the Cambodian conflict, preparing and concluding the Paris Agreements on Cambodia (October 23, 1991), and implementing the UN peacekeeping mission (1991-1993).

In 1990, the USSR promoted the recognition of Cambodia by the United Nations as an independent state (from 1979 to 1990, Cambodia was represented by the coalition government of Democratic Kampuchea at the United Nations), and in 1997 Russia supported the Royal Government during the July crisis.

In terms of developing bilateral legal framework, the signing of a Joint Declaration on the Basics of Friendly Relations in 1995 was of great importance. An intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic relations and a protocol on inter-MFA consultations were also concluded. Recently, the contractual basis of relations has noticeably strengthened: in the period of 2003–2014, 17 joint documents were concluded, since 2015 – 46 ones have been signed.

A dialogue is developing at the highest level, the beginning of which was laid by the meeting of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev with the Samdech Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen on the margins of the 9th East Asian Summit in November 2014 in Naypyidaw, Myanmar.

In November 2015, for the first time in the history of bilateral relations the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation visited the Kingdom. Following the talks between Dmitry Medvedev and Cambodian leader Hun Sen, the signed joint documents were aimed at expanding cooperation in the trade and economic, investment, law enforcement, information and humanitarian fields, including the intergovernmental agreement on air traffic, the Memorandum of Understanding and Partnership between the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Investment Promotion Council of Cambodia, the Rules of Procedure of the Russian-Cambodian Working Group in High-Level promotion of joint investment projects, the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" and the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, etc.

On May 17–20, 2016, the first post-1991 visit of the Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen to Russia took place, during which negotiations with Dmitry Medvedev were held. Following their results, a weighty package of joint documents was signed, including memoranda of understanding between the State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" and the Kingdom’s National Council for Sustainable Development on the establishment of a working group in the field of "peaceful atom" and on the creation of an atomic energy information center in Cambodia, on cooperation between the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia and the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom, joint statement between the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia on the list of projects of Russia-Cambodia trade, economic and investment cooperation up to 2020 and others.

On May 18–20, 2016, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen took part in the anniversary summit on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the dialogue partnership Russia — ASEAN in Sochi, on the “fields” of which Samdech Prime Minister had a conversation with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

The heads of the two governments met again on November 12, 2017 during the 12th East Asian Summit in Manila (Philippines) and October 14, 2018 - ASEM summits in Brussels (Belgium). In addition, on November 15, 2018 during Russia-ASEAN summit in Singapore.

An intensive dialogue is maintained between the Foreign Affairs Ministries of the two countries. The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Hor Namhong paid an official visit to Russia in May 2001 and a working one in March 2015 (during this event, the Council for Inter-Mining Consultations for 2015–2017 was signed).

In November 2012, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov visited the Kingdom as the head of the Russian delegation to participate in the 7th East Asian Summit (EAC) and other ASEAN events. During his stay in Phnom Penh, a meeting was organized between the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister Hun Sen.

On October 3, 2016, in Moscow, in the framework of the intersessional meeting of the Co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Russian-Cambodian Commission for Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation (IPC), Sergey Lavrov spoke with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom Prak Sokhonn (appointed 5 April 2016).

On March 30, 2017, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Igor Morgulov, held consultations in Phnom Penh with Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Ouch Borith. There was also a brief conversation with Prak Sokhonn.

On August 24, 2017, in Moscow, in the framework of the 10th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, talks were held between the heads of the MFAs of Russia and Cambodia, at which the Plan of Inter-MFA Consultations for 2018-2020 was signed. Sergey Lavrov and Prak Sokhon also met on August 2, 2018 at the ASEAN events in Singapore.

On August 21, 2019, in Moscow, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Morgulov held political consultations with the Permanent Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom Ouch Borith. During the discussion of bilateral issues, counterparts expressed satisfaction with the level of political dialogue achieved in recent years. The necessity of continuing joint work to deepen trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation was emphasized. The exchange of views on international regional issues confirmed the proximity of the two countries' approaches to the pressing problems in the modern world.

The parliamentary dimension of bilateral cooperation is also developing dynamically. In November 2008, the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vladimir Yazev paid a visit to the Kingdom. In January 2009, on the margins of the 17th session of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), in Vientiane (Laos), a meeting between a Chairman of the Federation Council S.Mironov and the Chairman of the National Assembly of Cambodia (lower chamber of Parliament) Heng Samrin was held. In October 2009, the Secretary General of the Senate (upper chamber of Parliament) Oum Sarith visited Moscow. In November 2009, the visit of the leader of the National Assembly Heng Samrin to Moscow took place. In December 2013, a parliamentary delegation headed by the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education Vladimir Nikonov came to the Kingdom. On December 1-5, 2014, a delegation of the Council of the Federation headed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Defense and Security E.Serebrennikov visited Cambodia. On March 16–18, 2016, the working visit of the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Federation N.Fedorov to Phnom Penh took place, during which he met Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen, Chairman of the Senate Say Chhum, and National Assembly President Nguon Neil. An agreement on the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation with the Senate of Cambodia was signed. In the framework of the participation of the representative Cambodian delegation in the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (October 14–18, 2017, St. Petersburg) a meeting was held between the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Kingdom Tep Ngorn and the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Ye. Bushmin.

On April 17–22, 2016, the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia Heng Samrin was on an official visit to Moscow, during which he took part in the First Meeting of Speakers of the Eurasian Parliaments. He held meetings with S. Naryshkin, Chairman of the State Duma of Russia, and N.Fedorov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council.

On June 25–27, 2017, in Seoul, a representative delegation led by the second Vice-Chairman of the Senate Tep Ngorn took part in the Second Meeting of Speakers of the Parliaments of the Eurasian Countries, on the margins of which he had a conversation with N.Fedorov.

In July and December 2018, contacts were held in Phnom Penh and Moscow, respectively, through the friendship groups of the upper chambers of the highest legislative bodies of our countries.

In January 2019, the parliamentary delegation with the participation of the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council I.M.S. Umakhanov and the State Duma O.N.Epifanova represented Russia at the regular session of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Siem Reap, in the framework of which they contacted with the Samdech Prime Minister and the heads of Senate and National Assembly.

Contacts are maintained through the judiciary. In April 2006, a visit to Cambodia by the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Russia V.M. Lebedev was organized, under which agreements on cooperation between the judicial authorities of the two countries were reached. In May 2007, the return visit of the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Cambodia Diet Moon to Moscow took place (an interdepartmental cooperation agreement was signed). In April 2012, V.M. Lebedev visited Phnom Penh with a short working visit.

Trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Cambodia is developing. In 2018, trade between Russia and Cambodia amounted to $ 202.4 million (an increase of 21.5% compared with 2017), including Russian exports totaled $ 11.6 million (an increase of 117, 5%), imports - $ 191.1 million (an increase of 18.3%). The negative balance of Russia in trade with Cambodia was $ 179.5 million.