DPM Prak Sokhonn Pushes Border Peace, Security And Trade At ASEAN Meeting

MANILA, July 24, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia used a series of high‑level ASEAN meetings with global partners to call for deeper economic cooperation, stronger action against transnational crime and continued international support for a peaceful resolution of its border dispute with Thailand.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn represented Cambodia at the ASEAN Post‑Ministerial Conference (PMC)+1 Sessions in Manila, where ASEAN foreign ministers met counterparts from the United States, China, Japan, Australia, the European Union, India, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United Kingdom.

As ASEAN Country Coordinator for relations with Washington, Prak Sokhonn co‑chaired the ASEAN–US dialogue with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He urged closer cooperation on trade, quality investment, resilient supply chains, energy security and digital transformation, highlighting US investment in regional infrastructure, including Cambodia’s Techo International Airport.

He also called for stronger regional cooperation against transnational organised crime, announcing that Cambodia will host an international conference on combating online scams later this year.

On the sidelines, Prak Sokhonn held bilateral talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

With Wong, both sides reaffirmed cooperation in trade, investment, education, energy, defence and development, while Cambodia expressed appreciation for Australia’s support for a peaceful resolution of the border dispute.

In talks with Anand, the two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, banking, clean energy, demining and crime prevention, while reaffirming support for the early conclusion of the ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Agreement.

The meetings also prepared for ASEAN’s 50th anniversary of dialogue relations with the United States, Canada and the European Union in 2027.