The inaugural Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in Phnom Penh between Bangladesh and Cambodia in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - Cambodia has reaffirmed its support for 
Bangladesh's bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner, underlining 
the importance of sustained engagement with ASEAN during the first-ever 
Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries.

The assurance was conveyed at the inaugural Foreign Office Consultations 
(FOC) held in Phnom Penh in a cordial and constructive atmosphere between 
delegations led by Bangladesh Foreign Ministry Secretary (Bilateral) Dr Md 
Nazrul Islam and Cambodian Secretary of State Un Kheang, said a press release 
here today 

During the meeting, Cambodia emphasised the primacy of ASEAN centrality and 
advised Bangladesh to pursue continued collective and bilateral engagement 
with the regional bloc. Bangladesh, in turn, sought Cambodia's support for 
its interest in joining the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic 
Partnership (RCEP).

The FOC was convened following the signing of a memorandum of understanding 
in 2020 during a bilateral Joint Commission meeting in Dhaka. Discussions 
covered the full spectrum of bilateral relations, stressing the need to 
activate existing agreements and memorandums of understanding.

Both sides noted steady growth in bilateral trade and agreed to deepen 
business-to-business engagement, deciding to convene the first Joint Trade 
Council meeting in Phnom Penh next year. Bangladesh also proposed conducting 
a feasibility study on a potential free trade agreement, which Cambodia 
acknowledged as timely in view of both countries' upcoming graduation from 
the least developed country category.

Cambodia highlighted that more than 1,100 Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products 
are registered in its market and proposed forming a joint working group to 
enhance cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, including regulatory 
capacity building.

Bangladesh expressed interest in investment opportunities in rice and cashew 
nut processing in Cambodia under buy-back arrangements. The two sides also 
agreed to convene meetings of joint working groups on agriculture and 
aquaculture in the near future.

The Bangladesh delegation thanked Cambodia for hosting Bangladeshi migrant 
workers in the construction and readymade garment sectors, while both sides 
reaffirmed their commitment to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration 
and jointly combating trafficking in persons and online fraud.

They also acknowledged the need to conclude an Air Services Agreement to 
facilitate direct flights and explored opportunities for developing joint 
tourism products to strengthen people-to-people contacts.

Dr Nazrul briefed the Cambodian side on the Rohingya humanitarian crisis and 
outlined reform initiatives undertaken by Bangladesh's interim government, 
including preparations for the next general elections scheduled for February 
2026.

Both sides stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy to address regional 
tensions, while Bangladesh offered to host the next round of Foreign Office 
Consultations in Dhaka late next year and indicated active consideration of 
opening a resident mission in Phnom Penh.