Outgoing Japanese Envoy Recalls Angkor Wat Walk with King Sihamoni as Defining Moment of Mission

PHNOM PENH, July 20, 2026 (KPT) – Outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi has described walking alongside King Norodom Sihamoni across the newly restored West Causeway of Angkor Wat in November 2023 as the most memorable moment of his diplomatic mission, calling it a powerful symbol of the enduring friendship between Cambodia and Japan. Speaking during a fireside chat reflecting on the Cambodia‑Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Ueno said the completion of the historic causeway’s restoration—supported by Japan through Sophia University—stood out among his many experiences. “Among so many memories, if I have to choose one, it would be November 2023, when the restoration of the West Causeway of Angkor Wat was completed. I had the honor of walking together with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni as he made his first crossing of the restored causeway. That was the most impressive and memorable moment I experienced during my stay in Cambodia,” he said. The ambassador said the moment reflected deep trust and long‑standing cooperation between the two countries, whose relations have since been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Looking ahead, he said the upgraded partnership provides opportunities to deepen cooperation across economic, political, defense and security sectors. He highlighted the Cambodia‑Japan Economic Co‑Creation Package, agreed by Prime Minister Hun Manet and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the Cambodian leader’s official visit to Japan last year, as a roadmap for expanding bilateral economic ties. Ueno also identified digital transformation, artificial intelligence and infrastructure connectivity—including the continued development of Sihanoukville Autonomous Port—as priorities for future cooperation. Ueno concluded his mission this July after overseeing one of the most active periods in Cambodia‑Japan relations, during which the two countries signed a series of Official Development Assistance agreements covering infrastructure, water supply, wastewater treatment, irrigation, energy, demining and port expansion.