Cambodia and UNESCO discuss cultural cooperation, regional issues in France

PHNOM PENH, April 10, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn has held talks with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany in France, focusing on cultural cooperation and regional developments.

The meeting, held on April 9, centred on strengthening collaboration in the protection and preservation of Cambodia’s cultural heritage and World Heritage Sites.

Both sides also exchanged views on the Cambodia–Thailand border situation and broader regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Tensions along the border have previously centred on the area surrounding Preah Vihear Temple, an 11th-century UNESCO-listed World Heritage site inscribed in 2008.

The listing intensified a long-running territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, with UNESCO repeatedly voicing concern over the impact of conflict on cultural heritage.

The organisation has consistently called for restraint, urging both countries to avoid actions that could endanger the temple and to respect its “outstanding universal value.”

It has supported monitoring missions to assess damage and promote preservation.

Officials said the issue remains a sensitive aspect of bilateral relations, with the protection of Preah Vihear Temple continuing to be a key focus in Cambodia’s cooperation with UNESCO.

The meeting underscored the importance of dialogue and cultural collaboration as a means of fostering peace and safeguarding heritage.