In the afternoon of 12 December 2022, His Excellency Dr. CHEM Widhya, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, received a courtesy call by His Excellency Paolo DIONISI, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to the Kingdom of Cambodia, at the Ministry after His Excellency Paolo DIONISI has presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath NORODOM Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, in the morning of the same day. During the courtesy call, His Excellency Dr. CHEM Widhya thanked the Italian Government for the assistance on the Maintaining Projects I.T.A.L.I.A) under Apsara National Authority Framework, and for the donation of 1.56 million doses of AstraZeneca to Cambodia in April. In response, Ambassador Paolo DIONISI congratulated Cambodia for the success in curbing the spread of Covid-19, and expressed Italy’s willingness to provide more anti-Covid vaccines. Ambassador Paolo DIONISI mentioned that to commemorate the 70th Independence Day of Cambodia in 2023, Italy could organize an opera performance in Cambodia.

Both sides agreed to conclude the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Bilateral Consultations as well as expressed strong commitment to further enhance the existing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade and economic, culture and education.