Cultural and humanitarian aspects of Cambodian-Russian relations

This study examines the humanitarian cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Cambodia, focusing on its core dimensions in education, culture, and tourism. It analyzes the formation, evolution, and institutionalization of this collaboration, alongside its impact on strengthening political dialogue and fostering people-to-people ties. The research scrutinizes the implementation mechanisms of educational projects, cultural initiatives, and tourism exchanges, detailing the involvement of both state and private entities. Particular emphasis is placed on how these humanitarian links enhance mutual understanding, cultivate positive perceptions of both nations, and establish a robust foundation for sustained bilateral engagement. Furthermore, the humanitarian sphere is considered as a self-sufficient instrument within the foreign policy arsenals of both countries. Methodologically, the research employs historical-genetic and comparative-analytical approaches, supplemented by institutional analysis. This integrated methodology allows for tracing the development of interaction formats and assessing the role of governmental and societal structures in their implementation. The novelty of this work lies in its holistic approach to Russian-Cambodian humanitarian interaction, treating it as a unified system encompassing educational, cultural, and tourism channels, and possessing its own independent foreign policy utility. It moves beyond a mere systematization of existing cooperation forms to identify their internal developmental patterns, demonstrate the synergistic effects between different humanitarian components, and define their function in consolidating bilateral relations. An additional original contribution is the focus on humanitarian cooperation as a "soft power" asset capable of augmenting political and economic partnership. The study also highlights the significance of synergy among these humanitarian vectors, which amplifies their overall impact, thereby opening prospects for new cooperation horizons responsive to contemporary challenges. The findings conclude that the humanitarian dimension is a cornerstone of stronger Russian-Cambodian relations, contributing to increased mutual trust, expanded public contacts, and a positive image of the partner country. The study determines that the further advancement of this sphere requires enhanced structural support, improved information dissemination, more active engagement of educational and cultural institutions, and the involvement of new actors such as youth associations, tourism operators, and academic communities. Such a broadening of participation is essential for ensuring the long-term stability and effectiveness of humanitarian interaction.

humanitarian cooperation, Russia, Cambodia, education, culture, tourism, public diplomacy, soft power, cultural exchange, international partnership