Background
The Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Chea Vandeth, led a delegation from the Ministry to participate in the second meeting of the “Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group” held in Tokyo, Japan, on 15–16 March 2026. The participation followed an invitation from Hayashi Yoshimasa, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan. The event brought together ministers, senior officials responsible for digital affairs, international organizations, and technology companies from participating countries.
Scope of Application
The activities described relate to Cambodia’s engagement in an international forum on artificial intelligence under the Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group framework, as well as bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and Japan in the fields of digital development, cybersecurity, digital human resources, and artificial intelligence. The scope is intergovernmental and focuses on policy dialogue and cooperation rather than binding regulatory instruments.
Key Provisions or Decisions
During the meeting, Minister Chea Vandeth delivered a keynote speech on the adoption and governance of artificial intelligence. He highlighted Cambodia’s experiences and vision for AI, emphasizing the importance of cooperation to address common challenges and to promote responsible, safe, secure, and trustworthy use of AI. The Minister underlined principles including transparency, fairness, and human-centricity, with a focus on prioritizing people in AI governance.
On the margins of the event, Minister Chea Vandeth held a bilateral discussion with Hayashi Yoshimasa, Japan’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. The two ministers discussed AI-related developments in both countries, exchanged views on progress under a jointly signed memorandum of understanding concluded in January, and reviewed other bilateral cooperation areas. These include digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital human resources, and artificial intelligence. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress of cooperation and pledged to further strengthen bilateral collaboration between Cambodia and Japan in digital and AI fields for the benefit of both populations.
The Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group meeting itself included a multi-stakeholder roundtable and breakout sessions with participation from experts and representatives from the public sector and AI-related service providers from participating countries and partners.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
While no new binding regulations or specific compliance measures were announced, the Minister’s participation signals Cambodia’s engagement in international discussions on AI governance and its interest in responsible, human-centric AI development. The reinforcement of bilateral cooperation with Japan in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital human resources, and AI may create future opportunities for collaboration, capacity building, and technology-related projects involving public and private actors. Stakeholders in Cambodia’s digital and technology sectors may wish to monitor subsequent agreements or policy initiatives arising from this cooperation framework.
Official Source
The information is based on an official communication from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of Cambodia published via its verified channels.
