AKP Phnom Penh, January 14, 2026 --

Cambodia has reaffirmed its respect for freedom of expression and independent media while underscoring that its political and development path is shaped by its own historical experience and the aspirations of its people for peace, stability, and national reconstruction.

In a letter addressed to The Japan Times on Dec. 30, Cambodian Ambassador-Designate to Japan H.E. Chum Sounry thanked the newspaper for providing space for informed discussion on international affairs, including Cambodia, and offered the Kingdom’s perspective to contribute to a balanced understanding among readers.

The Ambassador noted that while opinion articles reflect the personal views of their authors, Cambodia values constructive dialogue and believes it is important to present its national context. He stressed that Cambodia’s approach to governance and reform has been guided by lessons from its past conflicts and is pursued through nationally owned and gradual processes, rather than externally prescribed models.

Acknowledging that challenges remain, the letter highlighted Cambodia’s significant progress over recent decades in post-conflict recovery, economic growth, poverty reduction, infrastructure development, health, education, and social protection. These achievements, the Ambassador said, provide a strong foundation for continued reforms, with an emphasis on good governance and accountability.

Regarding international engagement, Cambodia reiterated its preference for partnerships based on mutual respect, practical cooperation, and capacity-building. The letter highlighted Cambodia’s long-standing cooperation with Japan, particularly in development assistance, human resource development, cultural heritage preservation, and multilateral cooperation, noting that such partnership-based engagement has contributed positively to Cambodia’s development and regional stability.

Cambodia also expressed the view that cooperative approaches rooted in mutual respect are more effective than those based on political judgment or conditionality.

The Ambassador reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to working with the international community to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development for the benefit of its people and the wider region, expressing hope that the clarification would contribute to a more nuanced understanding of Cambodia’s circumstances and its international engagement.

By C. Nika