During a significant diplomatic engagement at Malacañan Palace in Manila, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet pledged his country’s support to help the Philippines achieve food security. This commitment was made during a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on February 11, 2025. The Cambodian leader specifically mentioned assistance in increasing the Philippines’ rice supply, among other food products, as a key area of cooperation.
Following their discussions, a joint statement was issued where Hun Manet reiterated Cambodia’s readiness to contribute to the Philippines’ agricultural needs. President Marcos, in his toast during a luncheon hosted for Hun Manet, expressed optimism about the strengthening of ties between the two nations. He highlighted the long-standing friendship and mutual commitment to peace and prosperity, looking forward to enhanced collaboration in the coming years.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural and Agribusiness Cooperation. This agreement aims to foster agricultural planning and boost international trade and agribusiness investments between the Philippines and Cambodia. The two countries, which established diplomatic relations in 1957, continue to deepen their partnership through such bilateral agreements and within the broader context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.