Courtesy Meeting between H.E.Dr. CHEA Chanboribo, Ambassador of the Kingdom and H.E. Mr. Pavlin Todorov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Kingdom of Cambodia

Courtesy Meeting between H.E.Dr. CHEA Chanboribo, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Republic of Bulgaria and H.E. Mr. Pavlin Todorov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Kingdom of Cambodia

Sofia, 12 August 2025

On 12 August 2025, at the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Sofia, a courtesy meeting took place between H.E. Mr. Pavlin Todorov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Dr. CHEA Chanboribo, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Republic of Bulgaria.

H.E. Mr. Pavlin Todorov noted that this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Bulgaria. Both ambassadors expressed their hope that, during their respective terms, significant achievements would be made to commemorate this milestone.

H.E. Dr. CHEA Chanboribo stated his wish to establish a Cambodia–Bulgaria Chamber of Commerce during his mandate, to foster economic ties between the two nations. He emphasized the mutual benefits of such an initiative, noting that Cambodia could serve as a gateway to ASEAN for Bulgaria, while Bulgaria could serve as a gateway to the European Union for Cambodia. He also highlighted Cambodia’s recent rapid economic growth, its low tariffs with many countries, and its strong trade presence with the People’s Republic of China.

H.E. Dr. CHEA Chanboribo further expressed his aim to strengthen cooperation in tourism, noting the shared beauty and rich history of both countries. To boost tourism, he advocated for a faster visa process for Cambodian citizens, pointing out that Bulgarians can already obtain visas on arrival or through the e-visa system. He suggested that improving accessibility would encourage more Cambodian visitors to Bulgaria and the Balkans. Ambassador Todorov supported the idea and proposed a model similar to that used by the Bulgarian Embassy in Hanoi for Philippine nationals, whereby visa applicants submit documents through a company in Phnom Penh, avoiding travel to Hanoi. Both ambassadors committed to working on this proposal, recognizing tourism as an important bridge for cultural understanding and people-to-people connections.

Ambassador Todorov also shared his experience during his three-day visit to Cambodia to present his credentials to His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni. His itinerary included meetings at the National Assembly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, as well as visits to the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. He suggested that Ambassador CHEA Chanboribo meet with representatives of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce to establish links between the two institutions. Ambassador Todorov also expressed his pleasure at meeting Cambodians who had studied in Bulgaria, and reaffirmed his desire to see bilateral relations continue to develop for the benefit of both countries. He stated that a Memorandum for exchange of students is a great idea to further deepen the relations between the two countries, noting that for Bulgarians and Cambodians the education is traditionally important and a highly valued.

During the meeting, the Cambodia–Thailand border issue was discussed, with Ambassador CHEA Chanboribo affirming that Cambodia seeks peace, not conflict.

Both ambassadors reiterated their commitment to strengthening and deepening relations between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Bulgaria, with the aim of fostering progress and friendship between the two nations.