Synopsis: The Kingdom and the multilateral organisation reaffirm a shared commitment to peace, security and sustainable development while marking major partnership and peacekeeping milestones.
Cambodia and the United Nations marked 71 years of partnership and two decades of the Kingdom’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to peace, security and sustainable development amid growing global challenges.
The ceremony was held ahead of United Nations Day on Saturday, which commemorates the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.
Speaking at the event in Phnom Penh, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn highlighted the evolution of the Kingdom’s relationship with the UN, from receiving international assistance for peacebuilding and recovery to contributing its own personnel to international peacekeeping missions.
“Since Cambodia joined the United Nations in 1955, our partnership has evolved alongside our country’s historical journey,” he said.
The country was admitted alongside 15 other nations under UN General Assembly Resolution 995, just two years after gaining full independence from France.
From humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding to institutional development, economic recovery and sustainable development, the UN has remained a valued partner in the Kingdom’s pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity, he added.
Sokhonn said the Kingdom had deployed more than 10,000 peacekeepers, including more than 1,000 women, to 12 missions across 10 countries since beginning its peacekeeping contributions in 2006.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn (front row, left) and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia Vladanka Andreeva ‘(front row, right) at the United Nations Day 2026 commemoration in Phnom Penh on Thursday. KT/Heng Chivoan
He praised the Kingdom’s peacekeepers for their professionalism and expertise in engineering, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal and other specialised fields, saying their service reflected a national commitment to the UN Charter and the principle that peace was a shared responsibility.
Prime Minister Hun Manet praised the Kingdom’s contribution to international peace and security, highlighting the country’s transformation from a nation devastated by civil war into a contributor to global peacekeeping efforts.
On Saturday, Mr Hun Manet presided over a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the deployment of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) personnel to UN peacekeeping missions. The event marked the official inauguration of facilities at the Multinational Peacekeeping Force Training School in Kampong Speu province.
Mr Hun Manet said the anniversary represented two decades of progress in transforming the Kingdom from a country once plagued by civil war, insecurity and landmines into a nation contributing to regional and global peace and security.
He noted that the Kingdom had earned international recognition for its achievements in landmine and unexploded ordnance clearance, both domestically and through its contributions under the UN framework.
“We also take immense pride in the fact that the Cambodian flag continues to fly alongside those of other nations that have contributed troops to missions under the United Nations umbrella,” he said.
Mr Hun Manet attributed the achievements to the implementation of the “Win-Win Policy” initiated by Senate President Hun Sen, the former prime minister, which ended the Kingdom’s prolonged civil war and established lasting peace.
He highlighted the government’s strategy of “reforming to strengthen from within, and cooperating to expand friendships externally”, which includes institutional reform, military modernisation, training, equipment provision and implementation of the Conscription Law.
The prime minister urged peacekeepers to uphold the Kingdom’s reputation, maintain discipline and professionalism, respect local cultures, build good relations with international counterparts and local communities, and remain vigilant against security and health risks during their missions.
Sokhonn highlighted the significance of the recent armed conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand border, saying it underscored the need for restraint, dialogue and respect for international law.
“Cambodia’s position remains clear and consistent: we are firmly committed to resolving border disputes peacefully through dialogue and established bilateral mechanisms, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, international law and applicable legal instruments,” he said.
He added that the Kingdom sought a peaceful and lasting resolution that safeguarded good neighbourly relations and the well-being of people on both sides of the border.
Sokhonn thanked the UN Country Team, particularly the UN Development Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund, the International Organization for Migration and the World Food Programme, as well as other humanitarian partners, for providing timely assistance to communities affected by the conflict.
Their support helped address urgent humanitarian needs and demonstrated the importance of international solidarity in protecting vulnerable populations, he said.
UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia Vladanka Andreeva highlighted the longstanding partnership, noting that the Kingdom had evolved from a country receiving international support for peace to one contributing to peacekeeping efforts worldwide.
“For the last 20 years, more than 10,000 brave Cambodian women and men, among them some of the world’s finest deminers, have served under the UN flag, and we thank them with both gratitude and pride,” she said.
Andreeva said the UN continued to work with the government to support national development priorities through cooperation involving 26 UN agencies, funds and programmes.
The partnership focuses on investing in people, advancing green and digital transitions and ensuring that no one is left behind, she said.
She highlighted cooperation in climate action, healthcare, immunisation, education and preparations for the Kingdom’s scheduled graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2029.
Andreeva said the graduation should be seen not as an endpoint but as an opportunity for greater ambition in the Kingdom’s development journey.
Both sides noted the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing challenges that transcend national borders, including armed conflict, climate change, inequality and rapid technological transformation.
Sokhonn said the Kingdom remained committed to strengthening cooperation with the UN across its three pillars of peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, while continuing to support regional and global efforts to promote peace, resilience and inclusive development.
Andreeva noted the importance of solidarity by drawing on the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk’s words, “Khmer samakki, Khmer khlaing” – meaning “Khmer united, Khmer strong” – to underline the importance of unity.
She adapted the message to the international community, saying, “Nations United, Nations Strong.”
