Kuala Lumpur, July 11 – Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita met Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) in Malaysia, reaffirming India’s commitment to strong bilateral ties and regional cooperation.
During their meeting, the leaders discussed wide-ranging aspects of India-Cambodia relations, including heritage conservation, development partnerships, and regional security. Margherita thanked Cambodia for its continued support in India’s fight against terrorism and reflected on his recent visit to Cambodia, which featured several productive engagements.
“Delighted to meet Prak Sokhonn… Discussed multifaceted bilateral relations, from heritage conservation to development partnership. Also thanked Cambodia for its support in India’s fight against terrorism,” Margherita posted on X.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN-India FMM, Margherita also met ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn and appreciated his leadership in strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He further held bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
In his meeting with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa P. Lazaro, Margherita acknowledged 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries and discussed enhancing cooperation in key areas. He also thanked the Philippines for standing with India in its anti-terrorism efforts.
Earlier, Margherita co-chaired the ASEAN-India FMM alongside Lazaro, where the 2026–2030 ASEAN-India Plan of Action (POA) was formally adopted. He emphasized expanding cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and strengthening people-to-people connections, especially during the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism.
Margherita arrived in Kuala Lumpur on July 10 at the invitation of Malaysia, the current ASEAN Chair, to represent India at the high-level regional dialogue.
