Phnom Penh (FN), Jun. 6 – As a researcher and a policy analyst of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, I got a good chance to visit Australia at the invitation of the Australian Government from 24-30 May 2024. At the first day and first time in Sydney, I noticed that are many things that Cambodia should learn and should follow through the experiences of Australia.
First of all, I could say that Australia is a land of blessings because Australia is located in the middle of the sea which there is no country connected by land, so there is no worry about the border issue with the neighboring countries. However, still there are issues with sovereignty of the sea.
Sydney is a very nice city which contains a lake in the middle of the city along with the well-preparation to attract tourists from around the world. Opera House is nice place and it is famous around the world because it is related to the history of the city as well as the whole Australia.
On the first day in Sydney, I feel that people are very friendly and very humble because they are always ready to help when we are in trouble. During my stay in Sydney, I was very lucky to stay at a nice hotel with great service and I had the good time to explore the city since it was my first time to be there.
In Sydney, we have one best experience at the University of Sydney because over there all participants are invited to attend the leadership class that is lectured by professor Kevin B. Lowe, who is a famous professor in leadership.
Four days in Sydney has gone and then I travelled to Canberra, a city where Cambodian Embassy and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as well as Australian Parliamentary are located. However, before we arrived at Canberra, we had the nice discussion at the Lowy Institute, an institute which is famous as a policy research institution. At Lowy Institute I was very lucky to meet with many Australian experts, especially I got the good opportunity to meet professor Sean Turnell, an Australian economic advisor to the Aung San Suu Kyi government and was arrested to jail by the junta government of Myanmar after the coup in February 2021.
Meeting with professor Sean Turnell is a good time for me because I really respect his devotion and his works for freedom and development of Myanmar. During the trip of the Australian government at this time, there is one participant from Myanmar who is now continues her studies in Australia, after I finished talking with professor Sean Turnell, he is very happy and hugged me with all his happiness inside and he repeatedly told me that he is happy and grateful for Cambodia, especially the former prime minister Hun Sen, who has tried his best for his freedom and to live with his family in Australia. After he finished his expression with me, I told him that there is one colleague from Myanmar, suddenly she hugged him and cried on his shoulder. I took the picture of the two of them but my tear also drops down because their hug is a great of time that full of happiness and hope for Myanmar.
At the Lowy Institute, we have the good chance to discuss about Australian-ASEAN relations and also talked about China-ASEAN Relations. I can say that China has big impact in Australia because there are many Chines students and ASEAN students in Australia, but the image of China brings different interpretation among Australian people and Australian government officials.
The second day in Canberra it was a very nice time for me because I got the good opportunity to visit the National Gallery of Australia, have a very nice luncheon with Michelle Chan, Australia’s ASEAN, East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Official, and also have a very discussion with officials of DFAT.
In the afternoon of the same day, I got the good opportunity to participate in the Question Time of the Australian Parliamentarian members which all members of the parliamentary including Prime minister of Australia have to answer questions and raise questions to each other. That is the good chance to learn and to see the reality of the Australian government because I notice that Australian Government is very free and open for all people in the country. Access to information and ability to know what is right and what is wrong for the country is very important. The ability to lead is one great capacity and ability to judge concisely is another wonderful asset of the country. Canberra is a nice place where nature and people are located.
In the evening of 29 May 2024, I have an honor to be invited for dinner at the residence of the Cambodian Ambassador to Australia, Chheoun Boranchanborey, a very qualified ambassador who graduated from Australia National University (ANU).
During the discussion with various Australian officials and Australian scholars as well as ASEAN officials who participated in the Future Leadership Course, especially during the reflection at the end of the program, I found that Australia is a special country that can maintain good relations with almost all countries in ASEAN. One example to mention, Cambodia and Australia had established the diplomatic ties for seventy-two years already but the relations between the two countries is always in good condition because Australian diplomats are always humble and agree to listen to each conversation when there are differences between Cambodian Government and the Australian Government.
During the peace finding process in Cambodia between 1991-1993, Australian government had supported and provided important assistance to Cambodia. Since 1993 to 2024, there are so many Cambodian students who got scholarship to study in different fields in Australia.
Australian diplomats always go for face-to-face discussion with the related officials of Cambodia to verbally discuss and to understand challenges and problems of each case, and they do not put everything in media before having discussion. Willingness to listen and willingness to candidly discuss with stakeholders is a very special criteria of the Australian Government as well as Australian diplomats.
Thank you, the Australian Embassy in Cambodia and the Australian Government, for providing the good opportunities for me and other Cambodian officials as well as researchers to get the good experience to learn and to build network with friends in Australia as well as friends in ASEAN countries.
Seun Sam is a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
=FRESH NEWS
