PM Hun Manet pledges to restore Preah Vihear Temple as Cambodia marks World Heritage anniversary

PHNOM PENH, July 7, 2026 (KPT) – Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet has pledged to restore Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple after what he described as extensive damage during armed clashes in 2025, vowing to work with international partners to safeguard the UNESCO World Heritage site.

In a message marking the 18th anniversary of the temple’s inscription on the World Heritage List, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said emergency conservation measures had been launched in cooperation with UNESCO, the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Preah Vihear (ICC-Preah Vihear) and other partners.

He said international experts had been requested to assess the damage, while teams were clearing unexploded ordnance, stabilising structures and preserving stone fragments.

The destruction represented “a tremendous loss” not only for Cambodia but for humanity’s cultural heritage, he added.

According to the Prime Minister, 522 locations within the temple complex were damaged during fighting in July and December 2025, undermining years of conservation work.

He reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to restoring the temple and protecting it for future generations.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet also stressed the government’s determination to safeguard Cambodia’s territorial integrity and protect cultural heritage sites along the border.

Preah Vihear Temple, built between the 9th and 12th centuries and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List on July 7, 2008.

The temple has long symbolised Cambodia’s cultural identity and remains at the centre of border tensions with Thailand.