Cambodia, Burkina Faso to boost ties in demining

Synopsis: Senate President Hun Sen receives Ambassador Daouda Bitie of Burkina Faso, who presents his credentials to the Acting Head of State. The two sides discuss shared historical experiences under French colonial rule and explore future collaboration.Cambodia and Burkina Faso have agreed to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors—including mineral resources, military demining, and mutual support on the international stage.

Acting Head of State and Senate President Hun Sen on Wednesday welcomed Daouda Bitie, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Cambodia, who presented his credentials during a meeting at the Senate.

According to Senate spokesman Chea Thyrith, the two sides discussed the historical similarities between Cambodia and Burkina Faso, particularly their shared experiences under French colonial rule, as well as future areas of collaboration.

Ambassador Bitie proposed strengthening economic and trade relations, highlighting Burkina Faso’s mineral resource potential as a key area for partnership.

He also emphasised the importance of military cooperation in demining, along with broader collaboration and mutual support in international forums.

Ambassador Bitie expressed his gratitude to Mr Hun Sen for the honour of accepting his credentials and shared his pride in serving as Burkina Faso’s ambassador to Cambodia.

He described his mission as a valuable opportunity to learn from Cambodia’s experiences and to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Bitie highlighted the shared colonial past of Cambodia and Burkina Faso under French rule, noting the similar historical experiences that have shaped both nations.

He also expressed particular interest in Mr Hun Sen’s leadership and Cambodia’s post-conflict development journey, calling it a source of inspiration for Burkina Faso.

In response, Mr Hun Sen welcomed the ambassador’s proposals and expressed hope that his presence in Cambodia would further deepen bilateral relations, which have spanned 15 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Mr Hun Sen encouraged the drafting of an agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide a structured framework for cooperation. He also shared Cambodia’s development journey and leadership experiences, which Ambassador Bitie showed interest in learning from.

Mr Hun Sen noted the importance of cautious engagement with foreign aid, stressing that not all external advice—particularly from wealthier nations—is suitable for Cambodia’s context. He highlighted the value of local investment in building economic stability, which in turn attracts responsible foreign investment.

He added: “Sometimes, rich countries are simply lucky to be born into wealth—it doesn’t mean they are smarter than people from poor countries.”