Marcos Begins Cambodia Visit to Boost ASEAN Ties and Trade

Marcos in Phnom Penh

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Phnom Penh on Sunday for a three-day state visit aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic ties between the Philippines and Cambodia. The visit, which runs from 7 to 9 September, comes as Manila prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.

In his departure speech at Villamor Air Base, Marcos highlighted the “dynamism” of bilateral relations, citing cooperation in defence, trade, agriculture, and heritage preservation. He emphasised the need to diversify commercial ties and build resilient value chains amid global economic uncertainty.

The President also underscored the importance of regional unity, pledging to reinforce ASEAN Centrality and promote a “peaceful, stable, and resilient” Southeast Asia. Enhanced defence and security collaboration with Cambodia is expected to be a key topic during bilateral talks.

Marcos acknowledged the longstanding friendship between the two nations, noting the presence of around 7,500 Filipinos in Cambodia, many of whom contribute to education and service sectors. He also praised ongoing “South-South cooperation,” including Philippine scholarships for Cambodian students in science and technology.

The visit includes meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and other officials, as well as a business roundtable to explore trade opportunities. Agreements on transnational crime, higher education, and air services are expected to be signed during the trip.

This marks the first state visit by a Philippine president to Cambodia in nearly a decade, and follows Hun Manet’s own visit to Manila earlier this year. Marcos expressed optimism about the outcomes, saying he looks forward to “very productive meetings” that will benefit both countries.

-2025-09-08