Senate president Hun Sen posted a short video clip of Cambodia’s 32nd SEA Games closing ceremony, reviving national pride just days before Thailand prepares to host the opening of the 33rd Games on December 9 — an event which is already drawing international and domestic criticism over its preparations and organisation. The video, which runs just over two minutes, features the 2023 closing ceremony and part of former Prime Minister Hun Sen’s speech delivered under the theme “Sports: Live in Peace”. “Short video: Recalling the closing ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games in 2023 under the theme ‘Live in Peace,’…
Author: Raksmey Hong
Cambodia has issued a sharp rebuke to Thailand over its allegations of newly laid landmines along the border. The Kingdom accused Bangkok of misusing the Ottawa Convention’s compliance mechanisms for political purposes, warning that such actions threaten the integrity of one of the world’s most important humanitarian disarmament treaties. Speaking at the Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention in Geneva on December 4, ambassador Dara In, Cambodia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, said Thailand’s claims were not only unfounded but “entirely unilateral”, made without independent access to the alleged sites and unsupported by credible, verifiable evidence.…
Cambodia recorded a steep decline in visitors from South Korea in October, even as China reclaimed its position as the Kingdom’s top tourism source market, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s latest statistics report for October 2025. The report showed that only 9,831 South Korean tourists entered Cambodia in October, a sharp 26.3% year-on-year fall from the same month last year. In contrast, arrivals from China jumped to 111,195, marking a 32.1% increase over October 2024 and making China the largest single source market for the month. Across the first ten months of 2025, the trend remains consistent. South Korean…
Indonesia is sharpening its focus on Cambodian youth as a strategic investment in the future of bilateral relations, with ambassador Santo Darmosumarto warning that a widening generational knowledge gap risks weakening historical bonds between the two nations. Speaking to more than 300 students during a public lecture at the National University of Cheasim Kamchaymear in Prey Veng province on 28-29 November, the ambassador noted that while older Cambodians are broadly familiar with Indonesia, younger generations often have limited exposure to the country and its longstanding role in regional diplomacy. “There is a growing knowledge gap between generations in Cambodia,” he…
Cambodia wrapped up its first time hosting the UNIIC Demo Day on a high note after local students claimed the Best Pitching Award, while Indonesia’s Ekspora students secured the top prize at the regional startup competition. Vietnam earned first runner-up and the Philippines took second runner-up, rounding out a strong field of 14 university teams from Southeast Asia, India and Africa. Ekspora — represented by Chaeurdin Saputra (CTO), Hasna Choirunnisa (CEO) and Clara (CMO) — won the UNIIC Demo Day 2025 award with their export-support platform aimed at helping small enterprises navigate global trade. Clara said competing in Cambodia for…
Indonesian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Anis Matta wrapped up a one-day working visit to Cambodia on December 1 with a clear message: Jakarta is ready to expand economic and cultural cooperation with Phnom Penh while strengthening joint efforts to combat transnational crimes, particularly online scams. During talks with Ung Rachana, secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Indonesian official stressed the need to elevate cooperation in trade, tourism and investment, noting that rising flight connections from Middle Eastern carriers to Cambodia signal the country’s growing relevance to Muslim-majority nations. “In charge of overseeing…
Cambodia’s culinary heritage received international acclaim as The Taste of Angkor and its sequel, The Taste of Angkor 2, were awarded the prestigious “Best of the Best – Cambodia” award at the Gourmand Awards Best of the Best 1995–2025, held during the Saudi Feast Food Festival from November 27–30. The event attracted participants from approximately 200 countries, spotlighting the Kingdom’s rich gastronomy on the global stage. The two cookbooks, published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, are key components of Cambodia’s broader culinary diplomacy efforts. Launched by foreign minister Prak Sokhonn, the first edition debuted in 2021,…
Cambodian Living Arts (CLA) is set to celebrate the country’s vibrant arts scene with the 2025 Annual Amatak Awards, taking place on December 4 at Raintree Cambodia, from 6pm to 8pm. Now in its fourth edition, the event will highlight the achievements of this year’s scholarship and grant recipients, showcasing Cambodia’s creative talent across multiple disciplines. “The Amatak Awards have become a key platform for recognising the dedication and innovation of Cambodian artists and cultural practitioners,” according to organisers. The celebration brings together CLA beneficiaries, civil society partners, supporters and members of the broader arts community to honour those…
Three youth-led teams were awarded seed funding on Friday as UNICEF Cambodia and Impact Hub Phnom Penh showcased more than 100 young innovators at the Generation Future 2025 Demo Day and Exhibition, marking a renewed push to elevate youth-led social solutions nationwide. The November 29 event brought together the latest cohort of young changemakers from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap who have spent the past six months developing solutions to pressing social challenges — from STEM access for girls to maternal mental health and tools that support emotional well-being. Fifteen teams pitched their projects following months of training and fieldwork,…
Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for a stronger nationwide push to identify and support the estimated 4,000 people living with HIV who still do not know their status, warning that failure to reach them could slow Cambodia’s progress toward achieving the global 95-95-95 targets and ending AIDS as a public health threat. In a message marking World AIDS Day on Monday, the prime minister said that despite the country’s progress, “we must all work harder” to ensure early testing, rapid treatment and continued care for those who have not yet entered the health system. The 4,000 people with unknown…