Egypt, Cambodia Sign 3 MoUs in Antiquities, Museums, Heritage.

On Thursday, during his first formal visit to Egypt, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and International Cooperation of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Sameh Shoukry, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

According to Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesman for the foreign ministry, "the agreements seek to enhance Egyptian-Cambodian cooperation in the areas of antiquities, museums, and heritage."

According to Abu Zeid, "Shoukry welcomed his visitor and expressed gratitude for his eagerness to travel to Egypt to talk ways to strengthen bilateral ties."

He also commended Cambodia for choosing Egypt as the location of its sole mission in Africa.

In 1953, Egypt was one of the first African countries to establish formal ties with Cambodia, according to Shoukry.

The ASEAN, of which Cambodia is a part, and the Asian nation were also mentioned as areas where cooperation should be strengthened by the speaker.

By highlighting the modernization of the nation's ports, sea and land shipping routes, and opportunities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, Shouky informed Sokhonn that Egypt is ready to assist Cambodia in enhancing trade exchanges with the African continent.

The Cambodian minister reaffirmed that his nation hopes to expand its partnership with Egypt in the fields of tourism, education, and culture.

“Sokhonn also praised the scholarships provided by Egypt's Al-Azhar—the world’s largest Sunni institution—to Cambodian students in light of Egypt and Al-Azhar’s moderate approaches to Islam,” Abu Zeid added.