ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Cambodia are looking to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, energy, agriculture and trade, while exploring direct air links, as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet held talks on Oct. 17.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and First Lady Pich Chanmony in Astana on Oct. 17. Photo credit: Akorda.
The discussions marked the first visit to Kazakhstan by a Cambodian prime minister and came as the two countries mark 32 years of diplomatic relations. Tokayev said the visit could open a new chapter in bilateral ties, with both countries seeking to translate shared intentions into practical cooperation, Akorda reported.
“Kazakhstan considers Cambodia a reliable partner in Southeast Asia and an important link in expanding our partnership with ASEAN countries,” Tokayev said during the expanded-format talks.
He added that the countries would adopt a joint statement outlining their shared vision for future relations and sign several bilateral documents.
AI and digital government
Technology emerged as a key area for cooperation, with Tokayev highlighting opportunities in artificial intelligence and digital government. Hun Manet and his delegation were scheduled to visit the Alem.ai International Center to learn about Kazakhstan’s AI initiatives and technological developments.
Tokayev noted Kazakhstan’s progress in the United Nations E-Government Development Index and said the two countries could achieve significant results by combining mutual interest with political commitment.
“I am convinced that, given mutual interest and firm political will, we can achieve significant progress in expanding cooperation across many areas of mutual interest,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed energy cooperation. During their one-on-one meeting earlier in the day, Tokayev proposed exploring direct air links to facilitate tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
“Many Kazakh people would like to visit Cambodia and discover its attractions. We need to discuss the possibility of establishing direct air links between our countries,” Tokayev said.
Photo credit: Akorda
Trade, agriculture and education
Hun Manet expressed Cambodia’s interest in expanding cooperation in food security, agriculture and manufacturing, alongside energy and digitalization.
He also emphasized the longstanding humanitarian ties between the countries, noting that more than 120 Cambodian students had studied in Kazakhstan. Many have since taken up senior positions in public administration, including as provincial governors, state secretaries and ministry officials.
“Our countries are connected by a shared history and strong people-to-people ties,” Hun Manet said.
Tokayev praised Cambodia’s socioeconomic progress and expressed support for its long-term development goals under Cambodia Vision 2050 and the Pentagonal Strategy.
The leaders also highlighted their constructive political dialogue and engagement at the international level, including through their respective permanent missions to the United Nations. Tokayev commended Cambodia’s support for Kazakhstan’s initiatives on several topics on the UN General Assembly agenda.
Both officials expressed confidence that the talks would help increase bilateral trade, strengthen business ties and create new opportunities for partnership.
In the presence of Tokayev and Hun Manet, the two sides exchanged six memorandums of understanding covering cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital development, digital government and information and communication technologies, trade and economic relations, culture and the arts, and tourism. The documents also established sister-city relations between Astana and Phnom Penh.
Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Kanat Tumysh told The Astana Times that the countries were seeking to expand trade, explore investment opportunities and strengthen transport and technology cooperation.
