Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation located on the Indochinese Peninsula, bordered by Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Gulf of Thailand. Known for its ancient Khmer heritage and rapid modern transformation, it combines a rich cultural legacy with a developing economy centered on tourism, textiles, and agriculture.
Capital: Phnom Penh
Population: About 17 million (2023)
Official language: Khmer
Currency: Cambodian riel (KHR)
Government: Constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary system
Cambodia’s terrain is dominated by the low-lying central plains surrounding the Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. The Mekong River runs through the country, providing fertile agricultural land. The tropical climate features a wet season (May–October) and dry season (November–April).
The region was the heart of the Khmer Empire (9th–15th centuries), whose capital, Angkor Wat, remains a major cultural and religious monument. Following French colonial rule (1863–1953), Cambodia endured the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), during which millions died. The nation has since rebuilt under a constitutional monarchy, restoring stability and growth.
Cambodia’s economy has expanded rapidly since the 1990s. Garment manufacturing, construction, and tourism—especially visits to Angkor Wat—are major sectors. Agriculture, particularly rice cultivation, remains important. Despite progress, the country continues to face challenges in infrastructure, education, and income inequality.
Khmer traditions dominate Cambodian cultural life, with Theravada Buddhism as the prevailing religion. Festivals such as Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben reflect deep ancestral and spiritual ties. Classical Apsara dance, intricate silk weaving, and regional cuisines express the enduring vitality of Khmer identity.
Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy led by King Norodom Sihamoni and a parliamentary government. It is a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United Nations, balancing close relations with neighboring states and major global partners.
The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) and the Japanese Red Cross Society (Hiroshima Branch) have finished their planning for an exciting upcoming youth exchange trip. This trip is a key step in the partnership they recently strengthened. Planning the Trip CRC Secretary-General, H.E. Ms. Pum Chantinie, met on Thursday with Mr. Hiroaki Sakai, Secretary-General of the […]
Speaking at a high-level meeting for ministers focused on delivering the Global Cooling Pledge, Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Cambodia’s Minister of Environment, informed the world that Cambodia has adopted a comprehensive National Cooling Action Plan. This plan aims to address the need for cooling across various sectors, including buildings, the cold chain for food production, and
The Royal Government of Cambodia recently confirmed it strongly supports efforts to make sure everyone in the world has enough food (global food security). Speaking at the UN This message was delivered by H.E. Keo Chhea, Cambodia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during a public discussion at the UN Security Council in New York.
The Director General of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has confirmed that the ongoing work to clear landmines is essential. This work creates a strong foundation for lasting peace, helps reduce poverty, and ultimately improves the lives of the Cambodian people. Understanding the Mission Mr. HIDEHARU Tachibana, JICA’s Director General, made this statement on
The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) teamed up with a United Nations group (UNIDO) to host a workshop. The main goal was to encourage the use of clean energy, improve public water supply, and introduce “Eco-Industrial Park” (EIP) tools to business and industrial zones (SEZs and IPs). These tools help factories use
Cambodia is very serious about fighting online scams, a commitment H.E. Santepundit Chhay Sinarith, who leads the group fighting these scams (CCOS), strongly confirmed. Cambodia’s Commitment In a recent important meeting (on November 19th) with Mr. Niu Haifeng, a high-ranking official from China’s Ministry of Public Security, H.E. Sinarith stressed that Cambodia’s government is absolutely
On Monday, Cambodia’s Minister of Health, H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra, praised the excellent results of the country’s partnership with the United States. He noted that this cooperation has led to major improvements in Cambodia’s health sector and the overall well-being of the public. The Minister shared his positive comments during a meeting at the Ministry
Singapore and Cambodia have taken a big step to improve how people pay for things across Southeast Asia (ASEAN). They have officially launched a system that allows people to make payments using a cross-border QR code link between Liquid Group’s RoamQR and Cambodia’s national digital payment system, Bakong. The official launch event happened in Singapore
On November 11th, senior government leaders from six countries—China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam—met in Kunming for a second workshop. The topic was developing the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Innovation Corridor. The officials confirmed their shared goal: they want the sub-region to be connected digitally and environmentally friendly (green). According to a press release from
Phnom Penh, October 16, 2025 — Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia’s strong and expanding partnership with the Republic of Korea (ROK) during a meeting with Her Excellency Kim Jina, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and her accompanying delegation. The Prime Minister noted that diplomatic relations between