Cambodian Official Urges Political Parties to Bolster ASEAN Unity

PHNOM PENH, June 12, 2026 (KPT) — A senior Cambodian official has urged Southeast Asian political parties to play a stronger role in building trust and reinforcing ASEAN unity, saying party‑to‑party dialogue can complement official mechanisms in advancing the bloc’s community‑building goals.

Suos Yara, First Vice Chairman of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Commission for Foreign Relations, made the remarks during a roundtable in Hanoi hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam alongside the 3rd ASEAN Future Forum.

He said political parties act as a bridge between governments and citizens, helping strengthen political trust and regional cohesion.

Party‑to‑party dialogue, he added, can support ASEAN’s Vision 2045 amid challenges such as maritime security, food and energy stability, sustainable development and cross‑border issues.

Yara pointed to existing platforms including the International Conference of Asian Political Parties and trilateral cooperation between Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos as examples of sustained engagement.

He reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution through dialogue and international law, stressing that political cooperation should reinforce restraint and mutual respect.

The roundtable gathered representatives from 11 parties across eight countries, who agreed party dialogue serves as a Track 2 diplomatic channel complementing ASEAN institutions and the ASEAN Inter‑Parliamentary Assembly.