Phnom Penh—Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Senator Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, met with Her Excellency Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, reaffirming the strong and friendly relations between Pakistan and Cambodia.
The Chairman Senate conveyed warm greetings on behalf of the Senate of Pakistan and expressed deep respect for the National Assembly of Cambodia. He congratulated Her Excellency on her historic election as the first woman President of Cambodia’s National Assembly, describing it as a milestone reflecting Cambodia’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive leadership.
He also congratulated the leadership and people of Cambodia on their continued socio-economic progress and political stability, highlighting the longstanding bilateral ties based on mutual respect, shared interests, and close cooperation in multilateral fora. The Chairman Senate appreciated Cambodia’s active role in regional cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy and thanked Cambodia for its valued support for Pakistan’s UN Security Council membership for 2025–26.
Emphasizing parliamentary cooperation, the Chairman Senate reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening exchanges through Parliamentary Friendship Groups, institutional dialogue, and inter-parliamentary forums, including the Asian Parliamentary Assembly.
Recalling his personal engagements with Cambodia, the Chairman Senate referred to his participation in the Asia Pacific Cambodia Conference 2019, his meetings with former Prime Minister Hun Sen, his visit to Cambodia in July 2023 as an international election observer, and his recent interaction with senior Cambodian leadership on the margins of international forums. He noted that these engagements reflect Pakistan’s strategic outreach to Southeast Asia.
The Chairman Senate highlighted the establishment of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) in Islamabad in November 2025, describing it as a landmark initiative in parliamentary diplomacy. He appreciated Cambodia’s participation and its expression of interest in hosting a future ISC conference.
Both sides underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in trade, investment, climate resilience, defense dialogue, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural diplomacy, including the shared Buddhist heritage rooted in Pakistan’s Gandhara civilization.
The Chairman Senate reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with Cambodia and welcomed continued high-level parliamentary engagement to advance peace, connectivity, and inclusive development.
The Chairman Senate was accompanied by Senators Dr. Zarqa Suharwady Taimoor , Abid Sher Ali and Zameer Hussain Ghumro and Advisor to Chairman Senate and Ambassador for ISC Misbah Khar during the meeting.
