ខ្មែរ
English
On 15 August 2025, the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh marked the 79th Independence Day of India with a grand celebration at the Sofitel Hotel. The event was attended by senior Cambodian government officials, ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, dignitaries, and members of the Indian community from diverse backgrounds.
The ceremony commenced with the unfurling of the Indian national flag by Ambassador Vanlalvawna Bawitlung, followed by the singing of the national anthem. The Ambassador then delivered the President of India’s State of the Nation Address. In his remarks, His Excellency underscored the enduring civilizational ties and robust bilateral relations between India and Cambodia, reaffirming India’s role as a partner in Cambodia’s socio-economic development, heritage conservation, human resource training, Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), mine action, and growing defense cooperation.
Speaking on the occasion, His Excellency Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information, lauded India’s remarkable progress since independence, highlighting its emergence as a global leader in self-reliance, regional stability, and international affairs. He emphasized the deep-rooted Cambodia–India friendship across politics, defense and security, trade and investment, tourism, education, agriculture, health, demining, culture, and people-to-people ties.
The Minister recalled key high-level exchanges, including three official visits by Samdech Techo Hun Sen to India (2000, 2007, and 2018), the 2023 state visit of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, and the 2023 visit of Samdech Moha Bovorath Hun Manet in his capacity as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander-in-Chief of the Cambodian Land Forces. He expressed Cambodia’s gratitude for India’s vital contributions to the Kingdom’s peace and reconstruction in the early 1990s, as well as its continued support through initiatives such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, which has played a significant role in strengthening Cambodia’s human resource capacity.
The celebration also featured vibrant cultural performances, including traditional dance, patriotic songs, and poetry recitals by members of the Indian diaspora and embassy officials. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Cambodian yoga instructors in recognition of their contributions to the success of the 11th International Yoga Day.
The event not only highlighted India’s achievements since independence but also celebrated the enduring friendship and growing cooperation between India and Cambodia. In his closing remarks, Ambassador Bawitlung invited all participants to continue fostering stronger people-to-people ties and advancing economic collaboration between the two nations.
