Background
From 17 to 19 March 2026, Acting President of the Senate Uch Pborirath, who also serves as head of the group of Senate members for Constituency 2, led a delegation to Kampong Cham province. The delegation met with a total of 2,129 commune and sangkat council members and local authorities at all levels across the province’s ten districts and municipality. The visits formed part of the Senate’s outreach to disseminate information on national developments and collect local needs and requests.
Scope of Application
The briefing and discussions were directed to elected commune and sangkat council members and local administrative officials throughout Kampong Cham province. The content covered national policy issues including local safety, local development planning and budgeting, and Cambodia’s foreign policy orientation, including references to the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Members of the Senate delegation presented on the implementation of the Safe Village–Commune–Sangkat policy, local development planning, and the management of commune and sangkat budgets, as well as policies on decentralization and deconcentration. Acting President Uch Pborirath conveyed greetings and messages from the President of the Senate and briefed participants on the core functions, activities, and key achievements of the 4th session of the 5th legislature of the Senate.
He emphasized the importance and value of peace in Cambodia, describing it as a prerequisite for improving people’s wellbeing and national development. He attributed the current state of peace to the win-win policy associated with the President of the Senate. In relation to the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute, he recalled historical aspects of the Khmer and Siamese kingdoms, highlighting what he characterized as distortions of historical truth and appropriation of Cambodian traditions, culture, and civilization, citing temples and inscriptions as evidence of Cambodia’s heritage.
Acting President Uch Pborirath also underlined the goodwill and foreign policy line of the Royal Government of Cambodia to live in peaceful, positive coexistence and to strengthen and expand ties of friendship and cooperation with other countries.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
While no new legal instruments or binding policy changes were announced, the outreach underscores the Senate leadership’s continued messaging on the centrality of peace and stability, including in the context of border issues with Thailand. The reiteration of Cambodia’s foreign policy approach of peaceful and cooperative relations with other states is relevant for assessing the broader political and security environment in which investments and cross-border activities take place. The focus on safe local administration, local development planning, and budget management indicates ongoing attention to governance at the subnational level, which may influence the implementation of national policies and projects at the commune and sangkat level.
Official Source
The information is based on an official post by the Senate of Cambodia dated 19 March 2026.
