Luxembourg Formalises €2m Contribution to Demining Project in Cambodia

At the invitation of the government of Cambodia, Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Xavier Bettel, paid a working visit to Cambodia from Saturday 29 March to Wednesday 2 April 2025.

As reported by Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, the objective of this visit was to strengthen bilateral relations between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of Cambodia and to explore new opportunities for collaboration, particularly through development cooperation, but also in the political, trade and investment fields.

As such, the visit included a series of bilateral meetings with members of the Cambodian government, discussions with civil society representatives and visits to Cambodian cultural heritage sites, as well as to development cooperation projects.

In terms of political meetings, Prince Guillaume and Minister Bettel first met with Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, for a bilateral meeting followed by a working lunch. They then met with the following individuals: Senate President Hun Sen; Prime Minister Hun Manet; Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol; Minister of Agriculture, Dith Tina; Minister of Commerce, Cham Nimul; Minister in charge of Mine Action, Ly Thuch; President of Cambodia's Chamber of Commerce, Neak Oknha Kith Meng. Prince Guillaume and Minister Bettel also offered their condolences to the Senate President on the death of his brother.

The various political meetings provided an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interest, particularly development cooperation, as well as the latest international and regional developments, such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the political situation in Asia and the EU's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Luxembourg delegation also met with representatives of civil society and academic institutions operating in Cambodia to better understand the challenges faced by Cambodian society and thereby highlight the fundamental role of civil society in the country's development. In this context, Prince Guillaume and Minister Bettel met with stakeholders active in the fields of governance, socioeconomic inclusion, peacekeeping, human rights, and particularly women's rights.

Moreover, the working visit was an opportunity for Minister Bettel to sign, in the presence of Prince Guillaume, a general cooperation agreement between Luxembourg and Cambodia, which could serve as a basis for strengthened bilateral cooperation in several sectors. During a signing ceremony attended by the Hereditary Grand Duke, as well as Ly Thuch, Minister and Vice-President of the Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, and Jo Scheuer, UN Resident Coordinator to Cambodia, Minister Bettel was then able to formalise a €2 million contribution to the "Clearing for Results" project in the demining sector, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

"Luxembourg attaches particular importance to demining. Millions of mines still pollute certain rural regions of Cambodia and continue - even decades after the end of conflicts - to maim civilians, particularly farmers and children. In the medium and long term, demining also contributes to the socio-economic development of the countries concerned, as it allows for the safe return of land to its inhabitants, ensures security, and thus promotes economic development. We are therefore delighted to be able to contribute to the collective efforts for a mine-free Cambodia," said Minister Bettel during the signing.

The working visit to Phnom Penh also allowed Prince Guillaume and Minister Bettel to visit the Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, where landmine victims are treated, as well as the Kantha Bopha children's hospital, founded in 1992 in response to the urgent need for paediatric care after years of conflict.

Furthermore, the Luxembourg delegation visited the Mith Samlanh vocational training centre, which is supported by Luxembourg Cooperation through the Juniclair Foundation. The training centre, created by the NGO Friends International, is dedicated to the social reintegration of marginalised young people, including street children, drug addicts and sex workers.