On February 11, 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines extended a warm welcome to Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet at Malacañan Palace in Manila. The visit, marking Hun Manet’s inaugural trip to the Philippines, was highlighted by a ceremonial arrival at the Palace’s Kalayaan grounds, where he was greeted with honors.
A high-profile delegation including Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy, and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. joined President Marcos in receiving the Cambodian leader. Before engaging in their bilateral discussions, Hun Manet signed the guest book, symbolizing the start of his official engagements.
The purpose of Hun Manet’s two-day visit is to bolster cooperation between Manila and Phnom Penh in various fields, including the fight against transnational crimes, defense strategies, trade enhancement, tourism development, and regional and multilateral engagements. Both leaders are set to oversee the signing of agreements that will further expand the scope of collaboration between the Philippines and Cambodia across multiple sectors.
The diplomatic ties between the two nations, established in 1957 and reaffirmed in 1995, continue to grow stronger with this visit, promising a future of enhanced partnership and mutual growth.