Kingdom of Cambodia and the Czech Republic. Outline of Bilateral Relations

This article attempts to portray basic aspects of Czech-Cambodian relations from the 16th century until the present day, 2006. It deals with the first reports of Czech missionaries in the 17th and 18th century as well as globetrotters, students, diplomats and specialists from the 19th and 20th century. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established in 1956. Mutual cooperation in the fields of economy, culture and education developed dynamically for the next 14 years, only to be violently interrupted by the Lon Nol's coup d'état in 1970 followed by the genocidal regime of Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. When the Cambodian United National Salvation Front assisted by Vietnamese troops overthrew Khmers Rouges, the communist government of Czechoslovakia and the leftist regime in Phnom Penh continued to maintain an active relationship. After the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989, mutual economic and trade cooperation fell considerably. Recently, Czechs and Cambodians try to reestablish these past ties of cooperation. The Czech program for developmental aid was favorably received by Cambodia and presently, future joint commercial projects are being discussed.