AKP Phnom Penh, October 14, 2026 – The first day of the second meeting of the Conciliation Commission established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) involving Cambodia and Thailand concluded in the afternoon of Oct. 14 (local time) at the Peace Palace, the headquarters of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in The Hague, the Netherlands.

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, led the Cambodian delegation and legal team in his capacity as Cambodia’s agent. The Thai delegation was led by H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who also serves as Thailand’s agent.

The second meeting was chaired by Ms. Katrina Cooper, President of the Conciliation Commission, with the Permanent Court of Arbitration serving as the Registry.

During his opening remarks at the first meeting in Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn underscored Cambodia’s foremost objective before the Commission: to achieve a solution that benefits the peoples of both countries and contributes to regional peace, cooperation and shared prosperity.

To achieve this objective, Cambodia seeks to conclude a treaty with Thailand, with the Commission’s assistance and in accordance with international law, to establish a single, comprehensive maritime boundary between the two countries.

As an alternative, Cambodia stands ready to reach an agreement with Thailand on joint development and the equitable sharing of resources between the two States while awaiting a final agreement on their maritime boundary.

Should the two countries be unable to reach a final agreement on either maritime delimitation or joint development, Cambodia has requested that the Commission prepare a report containing recommendations for both parties. The report would serve as a basis for future negotiations aimed at reaching the agreements, in accordance with their respective obligations under UNCLOS.

Article in Khmer by Phen Rattanak
Article in English by C. Nika