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Cristina Chi - Philstar.com
February 11, 2025 | 4:05pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to maximizing bilateral relations with Cambodia and promoting regional stability in a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Feb. 11, 2025.
Presidential Communications Office
MANILA, Philippines — In his first visit to Manila as Cambodia's leader, Prime Minister Hun Manet called for Southeast Asian nations to uphold the region's centrality "especially at times of conflict" while avoiding explicit mention of tensions in the South China Sea.
At a joint press conference in Malacañang after a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Hun Manet also pledged Cambodia's "full support" as the Philippines prepares to take on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship in 2026 while stressing the importance of regional unity.
Hun Manet is on a two-day official visit to Manila that began Sunday, his first to the Philippines since taking over Cambodia's premiership from his father Hun Sen.
The Cambodian leader's trip is aimed at elevating relations and advancing cooperation between the Philippines and Cambodia, according to a prior release by the Presidential Communications Office.
His visit comes as Manila grapples with flaring tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea. Cambodia maintains close economic ties with China, which has poured billions in investments into the Southeast Asian nation.
Both Marcos and Hun Manet did not mention maritime tensions in their respective statements delivered before the press.
"Under multilateral cooperations, Cambodia underlies the importance of upholding ASEAN unity and centrality, especially at times of conflict and geopolitical dynamics," the Cambodian leader said during the press conference on Tuesday, February 11 after his meeting with Marcos.
The principle of ASEAN centrality puts the regional bloc at the center of decisions affecting Southeast Asia, especially in dealing with major powers like the United States and China.
"As the Philippines assumes ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, I assured President Marcos of Cambodia's full support," Hun Manet added.
Marcos also said they "exchanged views on ASEAN matters and other regional issues" during their bilateral meeting.
The two leaders agreed to boost military and security cooperation, with Marcos expressing satisfaction over "the growing partnership between our militaries and uniformed services."
"I anticipate the continued exchange of best practices and knowledge to support our mutual aspiration for regional peace and security and our collaborative efforts in enhancing our resiliency," Marcos said.
During their talks, both leaders witnessed the signing of eight bilateral agreements spanning various sectors including taxation, digital transformation, agriculture, and tourism.
The two leaders also tackled sensitive issues, with Marcos expressing gratitude for Cambodia's royal pardon of 13 Filipino surrogate mothers who were convicted by a Cambodian court for their participation in an alleged baby trafficking ring. The 13 women returned to the Philippines last December.
Marcos said he and the Cambodian leader "agreed to continue working together in a manner befitting our nations’ friendship and reflective of our vision for the improved peace, prosperity, and well-being of all our peoples in the region."
The Philippines and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1957.
Cambodia's position. In 2016, Cambodia blocked ASEAN from issuing a joint communique by objecting to any mention of the Philippines' legal victory against China at the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. Cambodia is not a claimant state in the South China Sea dispute.
During a visit by China's top diplomat to Cambodia last year, officials of both countries expressed their commitment to advancing negotiations on the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
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The principle of ASEAN centrality has been tested in the regional bloc's negotiations with China for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, which has dragged on for more than two decades. While both sides agreed on a preliminary negotiating text in 2018, Beijing has been accused of delaying action on the agreement while continuing to build and militarize artificial islands in the disputed waters.
