AKP Phnom Penh, February 26, 2026 --

A high-level French parliamentary delegation arrived in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province on Thursday, shifting the focus of their official visit toward regional security, territorial integrity, and cultural cooperation.

The delegation from the France-Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by its President H.E. Thomas Lam, landed at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport following a series of high-level meetings with legislative and executive leaders in the capital, Phnom Penh.

The group was received by H.E. Chheang Vun, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Second Commission and Vice-President of the Cambodia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group, alongside several local lawmakers.

The three-day itinerary in Siem Reap marks a strategic pivot from standard diplomatic protocol to a firsthand examination of Cambodia's sovereignty. In a move signaling deep geopolitical engagement, the delegation is scheduled to visit displacement sites in Puok district, Siem Reap province.

According to official agendas, the visit aims to provide French lawmakers with technical and ground-level insights into past border disputes and territorial incursions involving neighbouring Thailand. The tour is designed to highlight Cambodia's commitment to international law and its efforts to maintain regional peace despite historical friction along the frontier.

Beyond security concerns, the French delegation will hold formal talks with Siem Reap Governor H.E. Prak Sophorn. The visit also includes a tour of the Angkor Wat and Bayon Temples – monuments that serve as the focal point of a long-standing Franco-Cambodian partnership in archaeological conservation.

France remains a primary strategic partner in the international effort to preserve the UNESCO World Heritage site, a collaboration that officials say underscores the "noble civilisation" and modern stability of the Kingdom.

According to the National Assembly, the mission, which concludes on Feb. 28, is viewed as a vital platform to project the country’s narrative of peace and sovereignty to the international community.

"It is an opportunity to show the world the reality of our national development and our dedication to protecting our borders through peaceful, legal means," it underlined. 

By K. Rithy Reak