Pakistan’s Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali arrived in Phnom Penh Tuesday for a two-day visit of Cambodia, aimed at boosting trade and relations between the two countries.
The first Pakistani prime minister to visit Cambodia, Jamali was greeted at Phnom Penh International Airport by Prime Minister Hun Sen and a host of diplomatic and government officials.
Jamali met with Hun Sen at the Council of Ministers Tuesday afternoon, where the two signed a memorandum of understanding on combating terrorism and an agreement to promote investment.
“The official visit by Pakistan’s prime minister is a step toward strengthening the ties and cooperation between both countries,” Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters Tuesday.
“Both countries will set up a trade council that works on the mutual investment,” he added.
He did not elaborate on the functions or makeup of the council. Hor Namhong said the leaders would also discuss promoting Pakistan’s entry in the Asean Regional Forum. Pakistan was rejected last year, he said.
Jamali is expected to meet with Senate President Chea Sim today before visiting the Angkor temples. His visit is part of a nine-day regional tour that includes China, Laos and Thailand.
As Jamali and his delegation drove from the airport into the capital Tuesday morning, a crowd of students and scouts waved flowers and Pakistani flags to greet them.
Chea Socheat, a 13-year-old student at Champou Vorn school, stood among them, a Pakistani flag in hand.
Where is Pakistan? he was asked.
Still waving, Chea Socheat shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said.
