PM Hun Manet Calls for Reforms and Cooperation to Strengthen ASEAN Public Services

SIEM REAP, Aug 5, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on Wednesday called for innovation, stronger institutions and closer regional cooperation to improve public service delivery, as Cambodia hosted a major ASEAN civil service summit. Opening the 23rd ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM) and the 8th ASEAN Plus Three Conference (ACCSM+3), Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said governments must adapt to rapid global changes by building professional, capable and accountable public institutions. He warned public administrations faced mounting pressures from economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and climate change, while citizens demanded services that were more efficient, accessible and transparent. “To serve the people faithfully and unwaveringly” should remain the guiding principle of public institutions, he said, according to a summary of his remarks. The Siem Reap meeting, held under the ASEAN Socio‑Cultural Community framework, gathered ministers and senior officials from ASEAN states along with representatives from China, Japan and South Korea. Cambodia is chairing the 23rd ACCSM and hosting the event for the second time. Samdech Thipadei highlighted three global trends reshaping public administration: rising public expectations, digital transformation including artificial intelligence, and competition for skilled workers. He urged governments to use digital technologies responsibly and inclusively, while developing new skills among civil servants. He called for merit‑based recruitment, stronger career development and investment in human resources to attract and retain talent. Cambodia’s own reforms, he said, were shaped by rebuilding institutions after decades of conflict and are central to the government’s Pentagonal Strategy — Phase I, focused on people, roads, water, electricity and technology. The prime minister outlined three priorities for strengthening Cambodia’s civil service: improving merit‑based recruitment, boosting institutional capacity and professionalism, and introducing clearer performance‑based systems. These reforms form part of broader national efforts alongside financial management, decentralisation, judicial and legal reforms. Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet welcomed adoption of the 2026‑2030 ACCSM and ACCSM+3 Work Plans and announced Cambodia would chair the ASEAN Public Service Training Institutes Network in 2027‑2028. He urged ASEAN members to deepen cooperation through knowledge sharing and joint action, saying regional challenges required collective responses. Innovation, he added, must remain people‑centred and supported by strong institutions, ethical leadership and capable civil servants. The conferences, he said, should turn commitments into practical improvements in public services and help build a more resilient ASEAN community.