Phnom Penh, Jul 16 (IANS): Cambodia and Bangladesh have pledged to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation for mutual benefits.

The pledge was made during an official visit of Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen to Cambodia from July 14 to 16, the Cambodian foreign ministry said in a press statement on Saturday.

Momen underlined the Bangladeshi government's wishes to promote cooperation with Cambodia, particularly on economy and food security, during a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the statement.

It added that the visiting Bangladeshi foreign minister also held a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn on Friday, discussing bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues of common concern and interests.

"The two foreign ministers noticed with pleasure the similarity between both countries on several aspects, serving as ground for building and expanding the existing good relations," the statement said.

Within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Momen sought Cambodia's support, as the ASEAN chair this year, for Bangladesh's bid to become an ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner, it said.

Sokhonn assured Momen of Cambodia's support, underlining that it needs passing through the ASEAN secretariat's assessment and a consensus among all ASEAN member states, according to the statement.