Deputy Prime Minister H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, departed Phnom Penh International Airport this morning for overseas mission. According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Cambodian top diplomat will pay visits to the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Trkiye from May 24 to 29, at the respective invitations of H.E. WANG Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, and H.E. Hakan FIDAN, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Trkiye. Following his visit to Trkiye, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister will participate in the 4th Meeting of French-Speaking Entrepreneurs (REF) which will be held on May 30-31 in Marrakech, Morocco, at the invitations of Mr. Chakib ALJ, President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and Mr. Geoffroy ROUX DE BEZIEUX, President of the Alliance of French-Speaking Employers. In China from May 24 to 25, H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea and H.E. WANG Yi will hold a bilateral meeting to discuss the way forward in order to further strengthen the Diamond Cooperation, foster the existing ironclad friendship, and advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation between the two countries as 2024 marks the celebration of the Year of People-to- People Exchange. H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea is scheduled to call on H.E. HAN Zheng, Vice President of the People's Republic of China and meet with Mr. ZHANG Jianhua, member of the CPC leadership group of the National Development and Reform Commission and Chairman of the National Energy Administration. H.E. Deputy Prime Minister is also expected to have a meeting with Cambodian students studying in Beijing and Tianjin. In Trkiye on May 27, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister will participate in a business luncheon, where he will discuss th e potential for increased economic and investment cooperation between Cambodia and Trkiye. On May 28, H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea will pay courtesy calls on and hold separate meetings with Turkish dignitaries from both the executive and legislative branches. On May 29, H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea and his Turkish counterpart, H.E. Hakan FIDAN, will hold a bilateral meeting. The two foreign ministers will explore new avenues to strengthen the existing mechanism across-the-board and identify potential areas for future cooperation. They will also exchange views on current regional and international developments. Additionally, a number of cooperation documents are expected to be signed during the meetings, further strengthening the ties between the two nations. During his stay in Trkiye, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister will also meet with the Cambodian community and students. As Cambodia and Trkiye commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 2024, this visit will be a clear testimony of the robust and cordial bonds of friendship, further elevating the flourishing relations between both countries. In Morocco from May 30 to 31, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister will deliver his intervention during the opening plenary session of the 4th Meeting of French-Speaking Entrepreneurs (REF) under the theme: "Strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of French-speaking businesses: What support is expected from Governments?", in the presence of prominent figures from the public and private sectors. H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea will have a meeting with Mrs. Louise MUSHIKIWABO, Secretary General of the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF), to discuss strengthening the collaboration between Cambodia and OIF, most importantly, Cambodia's candidacy to host the 20th Summit of Francophonie in 2026. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse