Cambodia commits to ASEAN Charter, seeks peaceful border solution

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn speaks at the ASEAN Flag-Hoisting Ceremony in Phnom Penh on Friday, marking the 59th anniversary of the Southeast Asian bloc. MFAIC

Synopsis: Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn urges full implementation of the December 2025 Joint Statement to settle border dispute with Thailand and restore stability.

Cambodia vowed continued commitment to ASEAN unity, regional peace and multilateral cooperation while calling for the full implementation of the December 2025 joint statement to resolve border issues with Thailand.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn made the remarks on August 7 during an ASEAN Flag-Hoisting Ceremony in Phnom Penh, marking the 59th anniversary of the regional bloc.

Commerce minister Cham Nimul, foreign diplomats and senior ministry officials attended the event.

The ceremony marked nearly six decades of regional cooperation while highlighting shared goals for peace and economic stability.

It also underscored Cambodia’s willingness to work alongside ASEAN member states and external partners to advance a resilient and inclusive community.

In his ASEAN Day message, Sokhonn congratulated member states and noted that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

The Philippines chairs ASEAN this year under the theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together”.

“Today, however, we face a far more uncertain world,” Sokhonn said, citing armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions and pressure on international law.

He stressed that peace requires continuous effort, restraint, dialogue and adherence to the rule of law.

“Peace is fragile. It is not a condition that we simply inherit,” he said.

Sokhonn said core principles of the TAC remain relevant, including respect for sovereignty, non-interference, peaceful dispute settlement, renunciation of force and effective cooperation.

“These principles are the basis of ASEAN’s credibility,” he said, adding that member states have a duty to ensure principles are consistently respected.

Turning to the border conflict with Thailand, Sokhonn said the dispute is not purely a bilateral issue, as it touches directly on the ASEAN Charter and the TAC.

“The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, therefore, cannot be regarded solely as a bilateral issue,” he said. “It also concerns ASEAN, as it bears directly on the fundamental principles enshrined in both the ASEAN Charter and the TAC.”

He called for a peaceful settlement, saying only a just solution will allow citizens of both nations to coexist in stability.

“Only a just, peaceful and lasting solution can enable our two peoples to live side by side in peace, stability and shared prosperity,” Sokhonn said.

Cambodia continues to seek the immediate implementation of the December 2025 Joint Statement, specifically the prompt resumption of survey and demarcation work by the Joint Boundary Commission, he said.

He added that displaced Cambodian civilians must be allowed to return home safely and without obstruction.

Sokhonn warned that ASEAN cannot remain passive during global turmoil.

“ASEAN cannot afford to be passive. We must not merely respond to change; we must help shape it,” he said.

Cambodia, which joined ASEAN in 1999, remains dedicated to strengthening the bloc’s resilience and upholding the ASEAN Charter in practice, he added.

Sokhonn stressed that governments alone cannot determine the bloc’s success, calling on businesses, academia and civil society to help shape the region’s future.

“As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the TAC, let us renew our determination to translate its enduring principles into practical conduct,” he said. -Khmer Times-