AKP Phnom Penh, June 24, 2025 --

The Reunite Cambodian Alumni Association of the National Defence Academy of Japan (NDA) was officially launched here on June 24.

The event was hosted by Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. UENO Atsushi with the participation of H.E. Gen. Phuong Siphan, Secretary of State, Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, and other ministry’s leadership, and H.E. Gen. MORISHITA Yasunori, Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defence Force of Japan, who is currently in Cambodia for a business trip, as well as Cambodian alumni who graduated from the NDA.

In his remarks, H.E. Ambassador expressed his confidence that today's launch of the Reunite Cambodian Alumni Association of the NDA will further deepen the ties among the Japanese Embassy, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, the Ministry of National Defence, and all former Cambodian students of the NDA, and that defence cooperation between Japan and Cambodia will further flourish. 

“The Japanese Embassy will fully support the activities of the Reunite Cambodian Alumni Association of the NDA in order to maintain and develop the ties among alumni by hosting regular reunions,” he added.

H.E. UENO Atsushi recalled that in November 2000, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, H.E. Tea Banh, visited Japan and upon his request, the Defence Agency of Japan decided to accept Cambodian students at the NDA. Acceptance into the NDA's undergraduate faculties began in 2004, and by March 2025, 28 Cambodian students had graduated from the NDA in total.

He also spoke highly of the Cambodian students who graduated from the NDA, stressing that they are all very capable and talented, and after returning to Cambodia, they have assumed important positions in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the Ministry of National Defence. Now they are very active in many fields, including defense exchange between Japan and Cambodia. 

“We hope the defence cooperation between Japan and Cambodia will further flourish with launching the Reunite Cambodian Alumni Association of the NDA,” he concluded.

By C. Nika