The summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is currently underway in the Russian resort city of Sochi. ASEAN comprises the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Russia is a dialogue partner of the organization.
"Cambodia is a long-time and reliable partner of Russia in Asia. You are known in our country as an old friend of our state. I am very pleased to take this opportunity to talk about our bilateral relations in the framework of the Russia-ASEAN summit, to talk about further coordination of our foreign policy efforts, work in the areas of security, peacekeeping, fight against terrorism and drug trafficking," Putin said.
In turn, Cambodia's prime minister thanked Russia for support and assistance.
"If there had been no help from Russia, there would be no Cambodia," he said.
The Soviet Union established diplomatic relations with Cambodia, then-Kampuchea, in the 1950s. The Soviet Union helped develop education, healhtcare facilities and civilian infrastructure, and assisted Kampuchea in the 1960-1970s turbulent period marked by the Cambodian civil war and the conflict with Vietnam.
Later, Russia took an active part in solving the Cambodian crisis, and was involved in the promotion of the Paris Peace Accords on Cambodia in 1991 and the implementation of the 1991-1993 UN peacekeeping mission in the country.
