Japan wants Cambodia to hold next year's general election in a democratic way, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told the heir apparent of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday.

In an hourlong meeting in Tokyo, Hayashi and Hun Manet, the eldest son of Sen whose country holds this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, affirmed coordination in addressing the crisis in the military-ruled Myanmar, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Hayashi was quoted by the ministry as telling Manet that Japan will offer as much assistance as possible so Cambodia's general election in summer 2023 and local elections in June this year will be carried out "democratically and in a way that reflects a variety of voices of the people."