Toast Speech by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Royal Banquet hosted by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni

His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni

Senate President Samdech Say Chhum

National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin

Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Good evening. Let me begin by thanking Your Majesty for your kind words. Although I have visited Cambodia before, I am honoured to be making my first State Visit to Cambodia.  My wife, my delegation, and I are touched by the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to us. 

Singapore and Cambodia are old friends with longstanding ties. At the Royal Audience with Her Majesty the Queen-Mother earlier today, I recalled with fondness the close relationship between Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the late King-Father Norodom Sihanouk. Under King-Father Sihanouk’s leadership, Cambodia was one of the first countries to recognise Singapore’s independence in August 1965, and to establish diplomatic relations with Singapore. In 2015, we continued the regular high-level exchanges as we commemorated the 50^th anniversary of these relations. Singapore appreciated Prime Minister Hun Sen’s two visits – to attend the State Funeral Service for Mr Lee Kuan Yew and again to celebrate Singapore’s 50^th National Day with us. 

Singapore also welcomed Minister of Environment Say Samal as our 51^st Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, and Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport Hang Chuan Naron who came to study Singapore’s education system.  Speaker of Parliament Madam Halimah Yacob made her introductory visit to Cambodia in the same year to promote greater inter-parliamentary dialogue. These visits provided opportunities for our two countries to exchange ideas and keep up ties. 

Bilateral trade and investment flows between Singapore and Cambodia are healthy.  Singapore was Cambodia’s 8^th largest trading partner and 3^rd largest investor in 2015.  Singapore companies are active in Cambodia in a wide range of sectors including real estate, finance, energy, and logistics.  Singaporean investors continue to look for new opportunities to meet today’s challenges.  For example, a Singapore company, HLH Group, is developing affordable quality housing in Sihanoukville. Another company, Sunseap Group, will be building the first large-scale solar power project in Svay Rieng province. Last year, the two Finance Ministries of both our countries signed an Avoidance of Double Taxation agreement. When ratified, the agreement will make it even easier for our companies to do business with each other. 

I was also glad to learn that the Singaporean community here includes Singaporeans from all walks of life – from veteran businessmen to young entrepreneurs. They all believe in Cambodia’s long-term potential.     

There are also increasing exchanges between our two peoples. Singapore received nearly 50,000 Cambodian visitors in 2015, and over 67,000 Singaporeans visited Cambodia during the same period. Our two countries are well-connected by 43 weekly flights, linking Singapore to both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Singapore was an early believer in Siem Reap’s potential as a hub for visitors to Cambodia, and supported greater air connectivity to open up Siem Reap. Today, I am happy to see that Siem Reap is a bustling destination, with some 2 million visitors to Angkor Wat in 2015.  My wife and I look forward to visiting Siem Reap again tomorrow, and seeing the famed temples of the ancient Angkor civilisation.

Technical cooperation and educational exchanges form another important pillar of cooperation between Singapore and Cambodia. Like Cambodia, Singapore believes that human resource development is an essential ingredient for growth. Under the Singapore Cooperation Programme, more than 12,800 Cambodian officials have attended training courses both in Singapore and at the Cambodia-Singapore Training Centre in Phnom Penh. Singapore universities have welcomed several Cambodian students, as well as senior officials attending executive training courses on public administration, leadership, and e-government. Singapore will continue to support Cambodia’s human resource development. 

Earlier today, Prime Minister Hun Sen and I witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). An MOU between the Cambodia Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and Singapore’s ITE Education Services will enhance the skills of Cambodian trainers in technical and vocational education. The other MOU between Singapore’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Calmette Hospital Cambodia will renew and broaden healthcare collaboration. These agreements will foster closer collaboration and build lasting personal connections between our peoples. 

Beyond bilateral cooperation, Singapore and Cambodia share an interest in building a united ASEAN Community and maintaining peace and stability in the region. As ASEAN celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year, Singapore will continue to work with Cambodia to advance our common regional interests for the benefit of our peoples.

Samdechs,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

May I now invite you to join me in a toast:

• To the good health of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni

• To peace and prosperity for the people of Cambodia

• And to the enduring friendship between Singapore and Cambodia.