INTRODUCTION: HISTORICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND CAMBODIA

On 17 May 2010, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan remarked at a state banquet in honour of His Majesty the King of Cambodia that the relationship between the Kingdom of Cambodia and Japan had begun in 1569 when a Cambodian merchant ship arrived on the shores of Kyushu looking to establish contact with Japan. Further, from the Japanese side, there were 44 Japanese merchant ships which sailed to Cambodia with travel certificates issued by the government between 1604 and 1645.1

More recently, Cambodia and Japan have enjoyed over 50 years of a longstanding relationship during the reign of the King Father, His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk. Samdech Sihanouk has been an eminent leader of Cambodia, who has paved the way for a strengthened friendship which enables the people of both countries to develop the tradition of mutual respect and support over a wide range of areas, including politics, economy, culture, social affairs, and religion.

The following is a brief historical chronology of the relationship between Cambodia and Japan in recent times:

— 4 September, 1951 Cambodia participated in the San Francisco Peace Treaty Conference, and on 8 September 1951, it signed the Peace Treaty with Japan.

— From 9 February to 13 May 1953, King Norodom Sihanouk visited France, Montreal, New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Honolulu, and Tokyo in an effort to claim independence from France.

— 9 November 1953, King Norodom Sihanouk achieved full independence for Cambodia from France.

— 19 March 1954, Cambodia established a diplomatic legation in Japan.

— 4 May 1954, Japan established a diplomatic legation in Cambodia.

— 27 November, 1954, the Cambodian government informed its official position to the Japanese legation in Cambodia that it would not claim war damages from Japan.

— 2 December 1954, Japan informed Cambodia of her readiness to assist the Cambodian people through economic and technical cooperation.

— 21 February 1955, full diplomatic relations were established between Cambodia and Japan.

— 4 December, 1955, King Norodom Sihanouk visited Japan and met with His Majesty the Emperor Showa of Japan. During his stay in Japan, on 6 December, 1955, the House of Representative of Japan passed a resolution to express gratitude to Cambodia for its decision to abandon any claims of war damages from Japan.