Russia, Cambodia discuss boosting Russian fertilizer exports, expanding agricultural trade

KUALA LUMPUR. Oct 28 (Interfax) - Russia and Cambodia discussed prospects for expanding bilateral trade, including by increasing supplies of fertilizer from Russia, the press service of Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk reported after his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the 20th East Asia Summit.

"Alexei Overchuk and Hun Manet discussed the current state and outlook for the development of trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Cambodia, including the implementation of joint projects in energy, agriculture and industry. Given the developed agricultural sector of the Cambodian economy, special attention was devoted to possibilities for increasing shipments of Russian fertilizer, establishing cooperative relations in the area of seed production and expanding the list of agricultural products for shipment to one another's markets," the press release said.

"We are interested in increasing the scale of trade with Cambodia and in balancing export and import shipments. We have something to offer you. Russia is prepared to help ensure the food and energy security of the Kingdom of Cambodia," Overchuk was quoted as saying in the release.

Hun Manet "expressed the Cambodian side's willingness to help organize the necessary bilateral contacts," the release said.

The parties agreed to develop transport links and new supply chains between Russia and Cambodia. "Prospects for developing partnership relations between Russia and Cambodia in both a bilateral format and in multilateral associations were discussed in this context," the press release said.

The countries agreed to continue contacts through government channels and step up cooperation between the two countries' business communities.