Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet on February 11 to discuss strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the Philippines and Cambodia, Malacañang announced.
The Palace confirmed that Hun Manet will officially visit the Philippines from February 10 to 11. Marcos will host a bilateral meeting with the Cambodian leader at Malacañan Palace, where they are expected to explore ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as combating transnational crimes, defense, trade, tourism, and regional and multilateral initiatives.
Over 7,000 Filipinos live and work in Cambodia. Strengthening economic relations is a key agenda item, particularly with the anticipated signing of the double taxation agreement (DTA) between the two nations in February 2025.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto previously stated that this agreement would help ease the tax burden on individuals and businesses operating in both countries, fostering trade and investment.
Negotiations for the DTA began in Manila in 2018 and continued in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in 2019. The agreement aims to eliminate double taxation, encourage cross-border economic activities, and outline how tax administrations in both countries will impose and credit taxes by their respective regulations.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Cambodia were officially established on August 20, 1957. However, the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh was closed on March 18, 1975, as the Khmer Rouge’s victory over the Lon Nol government became inevitable.
Relations between the two countries resumed in 1995, and since then, both nations have maintained strong and cooperative ties.
