[The Editors' Verdict] Korea-Cambodia Cooperation Blossoms Along the Mekong River

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] When Cambodia is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is Angkor Wat, known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Angkor, where Angkor Wat is located, was a large city with a population of one million in the 12th century. It is said that the city heavily depended on rice and fish produced from the surrounding vast plains and the waters of Tonle Sap Lake.

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, with an average depth of 1 to 2 meters for most of the year and an area of 2,700 km². During the rainy season, an enormous amount of water flows into Tonle Sap Lake through the Mekong River, raising the water depth to 9 meters and expanding the total area to 16,000 km².

At this time, over 600 species of freshwater fish gather in Tonle Sap Lake to lay eggs and reproduce. When the rainy season ends and the water flow that had been entering Tonle Sap Lake reverses to flow back into the Mekong River, the Cambodian people hold an annual Water Festival. Since the Angkor era to the present, the Mekong River has provided Cambodians with both material and spiritual nourishment throughout their history.

Cambodia experienced a painful period from 1975 to 1979 under the Khmer Rouge regime, during which two million civilians were driven to death.

In 1991, Cambodia overcame its dark history and division to achieve peace and prosperity by signing the Paris Peace Agreements, which involved major political factions and key countries worldwide, including the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Last month, Cambodia marked the 30th anniversary of the peace agreement.

Following the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, the operation of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), Cambodia’s general elections, and increased international aid successively transformed Cambodia. By 2015, Cambodia had advanced from a least developed country to a lower-middle-income country, and the number of tourists increased from 200,000 in 1995 to 6.6 million in 2019.

Since reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cambodia in 1997, the Korean government has designated Cambodia as a key development cooperation partner, providing a total of $900 million in development aid in health, infrastructure construction, education, and agriculture sectors.

At the multilateral level, starting with the 1st Korea-Mekong Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in October 2011, the consultative body has been developed. In November 2019, the 1st Korea-Mekong Summit was held in Busan during the Korea-ASEAN Summit, and in November 2020, the 2nd Korea-Mekong Summit agreed to elevate the Korea-Mekong cooperation relationship to a strategic partnership. This year, marking the 10th anniversary of Korea-Mekong cooperation, the Korean Embassy in Cambodia is consecutively holding cultural events and seminars in Cambodia.

Cambodia plans to widely showcase its development by hosting the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM13) on the 25th and 26th, attended by heads of state from over 50 countries in Asia and Europe.

Next year, as the ASEAN Chair, Cambodia will lead the 10 ASEAN countries under the theme of “Joint Response to Challenges” to promote harmony, peace, and prosperity in the ASEAN region, coordinating cooperative relationships with key dialogue partners, including Korea.

Korea plans to continue supporting Cambodia’s active role on the international stage by providing useful cooperation as a country with living experience in economic development.

Just as the Mekong River’s waters flow backward into Tonle Sap Lake during the rainy season to build abundance before flowing back to the sea through the Mekong River, Cambodia has strengthened its internal development through painful history and is believed to continue progressing toward a hopeful future sea.

Park Heung-kyung, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cambodia