Sun Chanthol Meets U.S. Congressional Delegation to Strengthen Cooperation

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, who also serves as first vice chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, received a courtesy call from a U.S. congressional delegation led by Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.

The visit aimed to promote information sharing on Cambodia’s development and potential, while strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Cambodia and the United States in key areas of mutual interest.

During the meeting, Chanthol expressed appreciation for the U.S. decision to reduce tariffs on Cambodian exports from 49% to 19%. He said the move would encourage investment and enhance trade relations between the two countries.

Chanthol also thanked President Donald Trump for facilitating a ceasefire in the Cambodia-Thailand conflict. He reaffirmed Cambodia’s longstanding commitment to peace, a position acknowledged in a letter from Trump dated Aug. 20, 2025, in which the former president expressed gratitude and praised Cambodia’s support for his Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

The meeting highlighted Cambodia’s development potential, particularly the “Win-Win Policy” initiated by former Prime Minister Hun Sen, now president of the Senate. The policy was credited with ending decades of conflict and fostering national stability, independence and unity.

Chanthol also outlined progress made by the Royal Government of Cambodia during the seventh legislature of the National Assembly, especially in investment coordination and promotion under the CDC. He emphasized the government’s commitment to improving the investment climate through digital transformation.

Van Duyne thanked the Cambodian government for its hospitality and said she was pleased to make her second visit to the Kingdom. She praised Cambodia’s rapid development and the strengthening of bilateral ties, expressing optimism for continued cooperation.

In a previous meeting in May 2025 in Washington, D.C., held during bilateral tax agreement negotiations, Van Duyne had also voiced her intention to deepen U.S.-Cambodia relations.