India, Cambodia Deepen Strategic Ties During Minister Pabitra Margherita’s Official Visit

India and Cambodia reaffirmed their growing strategic and cultural partnership during the two-day official visit of Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita, to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

In back-to-back meetings with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Hun Sen, and Prime Minister Hun Manet, Minister Margherita discussed expanding cooperation in areas including infrastructure development, digital connectivity, and human resource training.

Image Source: MEA/FM on X

The talks highlighted India's role as a long-standing development partner and underlined Cambodia’s strategic interest in deepening ties with New Delhi.

The minister’s visit also spotlighted India’s soft power. In Phnom Penh, Margherita engaged with alumni of India’s ITEC and ICCR programmes—flagship schemes that have trained over 3,000 Cambodian officials. He called the partnership "a cornerstone of India’s diplomacy in Southeast Asia."

In Siem Reap, the minister visited the iconic Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm temples, where India has led conservation work for decades. 

He reviewed ongoing restoration efforts at Ta Prohm by the Archaeological Survey of India and reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to heritage preservation.

Margherita also toured the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Asian Traditional Textile Museum, set up with Indian support, which showcases centuries-old weaving traditions across the region.

During a separate interaction with the Indian diaspora, Margherita emphasized the government’s global outreach programs and praised the community's role in building bridges between India and Cambodia.

The visit comes amid New Delhi’s renewed diplomatic push in ASEAN, as India positions itself as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific on trade, heritage, and development.