Cambodia Reinforces ASEAN+3 Cooperation for Public Service Reform

Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia has once again affirmed Cambodia's full support and strong commitment to working closely with ASEAN member states, ASEAN+3 countries, and dialogue partners to transform documents into concrete actions. This commitment was reiterated during the opening of the 23rd ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters (ACCMS) and the 8th ACCSM+3, held at the Sokha Hotel in Siem Reap on the morning of Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Prime Minister Hun Manet highlighted the significant importance of multilateral forums like the ACCSM framework. He expressed delight at the progress achieved under the ACCSM and ACCSM+3 work plans for 2021-2025, as emphasized by Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many, who chaired the meeting. Prime Minister Hun Manet also welcomed the development of the ACCSM and ACCSM+3 work plans for 2026-2030, the ASEAN Statement on Promoting Innovation for Better Public Service Delivery, and other key achievements such as the Terms of Reference (TOR) for ASEAN Cooperation on Public Service and the Rules of Procedure (ROP) for the Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Public Service Cooperation+3. In this spirit, Prime Minister Hun Manet added that Cambodia takes pride in assuming the rotational chairmanship of the ASEAN Network of Public Administration Training Institutes for the 2027-2028 mandate. He entrusted this significant responsibility to the Royal School of Administration as the responsible institution, along with all relevant parties, to ensure concrete outcomes. Prime Minister Hun Manet stated, "I reaffirm that Cambodia fully supports and remains committed to working closely with all ASEAN member states, ASEAN+3 countries, and dialogue partners to transform these documents into concrete actions. In this spirit, Cambodia is proud to assume the rotational chairmanship of the ASEAN Network of Public Administration Training Institutes for the 2027-2028 mandate." Prime Minister Hun Manet noted that Cambodia's public administration reform is rooted in a unique journey of recovery, nation-building, and peace-building. After the near-total destruction of institutions under the Khmer Rouge regime, Cambodia began rebuilding the nation from scratch after January 7, 1979, by mobilizing surviving human resources and intellectuals. Addressing foreign dignitaries, the Prime Minister pointed out that this recovery process led to the historic "Win-Win" policy of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, which ended decades of civil conflict on December 29, 1998. This hard-won peace became the cornerstone of Cambodia's stability, providing a crucial foundation for a modern public service administration, national reconstruction, and long-term economic development. Prime Minister Hun Manet continued that the journey of national recovery and peace-building is the foundation upon which Cambodia's reform efforts have flourished and continues to define the philosophy that guides us today. In promoting public administration reform, Cambodia's core philosophy always prioritizes the well-being of the nation and its people. He expressed strong confidence that despite coming from different countries, the core principle remains the same: "to serve the people with sincerity and unwavering dedication."