Indonesia discussed Cambodia’s democratic reform during Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn’s second visit on Tuesday ahead of an annual democracy forum.

After visiting in February, Sokhonn met his host Retno LP Marsudi during the 4th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation at the Foreign Ministry.

“During the meeting, we exchanged views on democracy as Indonesia is preparing to host the 11th Bali Democracy Forum [BDF],” Retno told a press conference after the meeting, referring to the annual event to be held from Wednesday to Saturday in Nusa Dua, Bali, themed “Democracy and Prosperity”.

Retno shared Indonesia’s view and experience on promoting democracy domestically, as well as measures to prepare for the 2019 general elections.

“Indonesia believes that democracy is the best way to serve the people,” she said.

Echoing Retno, Sokhonn said he used Wednesday’s meeting to inform Jakarta about Cambodia’s progress on democratic reform.

He said Phnom Penh had taken a number of steps to “promote a democratic political environment, open more democratic spaces and promote participation and interaction with civil society and NGOs”.

Cambodia has recently eased pressure on the opposition and media following threats by the European Union to deny its duty-free trading access, Reuters reported.

The EU began in November a formal procedure to strip Cambodia of its “Everything but Arms” initiative, after Prime Minister Hun Sen returned to power in a July election in which his party won all National Assembly seats.

The parliament is reviewing a five-year ban on more than 100 members of the main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which was dissolved by the Supreme Court in 2017 at the request of the government after accusations that the party was plotting to take power with the help of the United States.

“We are going as far as we can to promote democracy,” said Sokhonn, who described Wednesday’s discussion as “friendly and frank”.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry’s Southeast Asia director Denny Abdi separately said Jakarta initiated the talk on democracy as the BDF will start soon.

Retno told Sokhonn that the BDF would particularly highlight “homegrown democracy”, in which each participating country would share their experience in democracy with their own local values, Denny said.

Sokhonn also emphasized Phnom Penh’s commitment to promoting democracy, Denny added.

He further said Sokhonn even expressed Phnom Penh’s gratitude for and impression of Jakarta’s help, saying it was without any attempt of interference.

“The [Cambodian] minister said they had ended their internal conflict not long ago and, thus, were just starting to head to democracy,” Denny said, adding that Sokhonn seemed inspired by Retno. “We [Indonesia] too are happy that Cambodia wants to open itself to us.”

In the meeting, both countries agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, especially in trade and investment.

Retno said bilateral trade value recorded an increase of 10.8 percent in the past five years.

There are also a number of investment projects carried out by private companies on infrastructure and housing, as well as pharmaceuticals and food production.

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