AKP Phnom Penh, February 27, 2026 --

Siem Reap Provincial Governor H.E. Prak Sophoan on Friday received a courtesy visit from a delegation of French lawmakers from the France-Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by its President H.E. Thomas Lam, provincial authorities said.

The delegation was accompanied by H.E. Chheang Vun, Chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly’s Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit, as well as National Assembly Members representing Siem Reap constituency.

During the meeting at the Siem Reap provincial hall, H.E. Prak Sophoan outlined the province’s geographic characteristics and economic potential, particularly in agriculture and tourism, noting Siem Reap’s abundance of historic temples and natural attractions.

He highlighted longstanding cooperation between Siem Reap and France, including twinning arrangements with four French provinces and cities. Areas of cooperation include vocational training in hospitality and tourism, sustainable agricultural development projects for poor households, environmental management, urban beautification along the Siem Reap River, water treatment facilities, temple restoration and cultural heritage research conducted by French institutions.

The Siem Reap Provincial Governor also briefed the delegation on the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, saying Thai incursions had displaced around 150,000 civilians who sought shelter in safe zones in Siem Reap province. Following a ceasefire agreement, some displaced residents have returned home, while others remain in temporary shelters due to damaged property and security concerns, including unexploded ordnance, he said.

He expressed hope the visit by the French parliamentary delegation would help convey the hardships faced by Cambodian civilians to the French parliament and the wider international community.

In response, H.E. Thomas Lam said the delegation’s visit aimed to strengthen Cambodia-France cooperation, particularly through partnerships between Siem Reap and French local authorities. He praised the progress of joint projects and said the delegation would share information about the border situation and displaced civilians with French lawmakers and international partners.

During the visit, the delegation toured cooperation project sites and visited around 200 displaced families in Puok district, where they distributed humanitarian assistance including food supplies and financial support, provincial authorities said.

By K. Rithy Reak