Siem reap: Siem Reap Provincial Governor H.E. Prak Sophoan on Friday received a courtesy visit from a delegation of French lawmakers from the France-Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by its President H.E. Thomas Lam, provincial authorities said.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the delegation was accompanied by H.E. Chheang Vun, Chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly's Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit, as well as National Assembly Members representing Siem Reap constituency. The meeting, held at the Siem Reap provincial hall, focused on the province's geographic characteristics and economic potential, notably in agriculture and tourism, with Siem Reap's historic temples and natural attractions highlighted.
H.E. Prak Sophoan emphasized the longstanding cooperation between Siem Reap and France, which includes twinning arrangements with four French provinces and cities. The collaboration spans vocational training in hospitality and tourism, sustainable agricultural development projects for poor households, environmental management, urban beautification along the Siem Reap River, water treatment facilities, temple restoration, and cultural heritage research conducted by French institutions.
The governor also briefed the delegation on the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, noting that Thai incursions had displaced approximately 150,000 civilians who sought refuge in safe zones in Siem Reap province. Despite a ceasefire agreement allowing some displaced residents to return, others remain in temporary shelters due to damaged property and security concerns, including unexploded ordnance.
He expressed hope that the visit by the French parliamentary delegation would help convey the challenges faced by Cambodian civilians to the French parliament and the wider international community.
In response, H.E. Thomas Lam stated that the delegation's visit aimed to strengthen Cambodia-France cooperation, particularly through partnerships between Siem Reap and French local authorities. He commended the progress of joint projects and assured that the delegation would share information about the border situation and displaced civilians with French lawmakers and international partners.
During the visit, the delegation toured cooperation project sites and visited around 200 displaced families in Puok district, where they distributed humanitarian assistance, including food supplies and financial support, provincial authorities said.