Senate President Receives Credentials from Burkina Faso’s New Ambassador to Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Sept. 4, 2025) — Acting Head of State Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Thursday received credentials from Daouda Bitie, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Burkina Faso to Cambodia, marking a renewed commitment to bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

During the courtesy call, Samdech Techo Hun Sen welcomed Bitie and congratulated him on his appointment, expressing hope that the ambassador’s presence would help deepen ties between Cambodia and Burkina Faso, which established diplomatic relations in 2010.

Bitie conveyed his gratitude for the warm reception and shared a message of goodwill from Burkina Faso’s president. He described his posting as a valuable opportunity to learn from Cambodia’s development experience and praised Hun Sen’s leadership as a model for post-conflict recovery and national resilience.

The ambassador also noted historical parallels between the two countries, both of which were once under French colonial rule, and emphasized the potential for mutual learning in governance and development.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen reaffirmed Cambodia’s willingness to share its experiences, particularly in managing foreign aid and promoting domestic investment. He cautioned that external assistance must be carefully considered to avoid unintended consequences and stressed that local investment plays a critical role in attracting foreign capital.

He also reflected on past foreign policy advice, including proposals to privatize customs operations, which he said may not have aligned with Cambodia’s national interests.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen concluded the meeting by offering his best wishes for Bitie’s diplomatic mission and reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Burkina Faso.