Cambodia has reaffirmed its support for the humanitarian objectives of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and voiced backing for Laos as host of the upcoming treaty conference.
Senior Minister H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, First Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), expressed the support on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia during bilateral talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Thongsavan Phomvihane on Sept. 13 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane. H.E. Phomvihane also serves as President of the 3rd Review Conference of the CCM.
During the meeting, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch thanked Laos for hosting and presiding over the 3rd Review Conference, reaffirming Phnom Penh’s support for Vientiane’s efforts to advance international humanitarian causes.
Highlighting the long-standing diplomatic ties and traditional friendship between the two neighbouring nations, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch commended the Lao government and its people for their progress and resilience in addressing explosive remnants of war (ERW), particularly cluster submunitions.
He noted that over the past three decades, Cambodia has cleared more than 3,500 square kilometres of landmines and ERW. The efforts have saved countless lives, freed up land for socio-economic development, and established safer communities across the country.
H.E. Senior Minister emphasised that although Cambodia is not a state party to the CCM and holds observer status, it remains actively engaged in supporting the convention’s humanitarian mission and has cleared vast swathes of cluster bomb remnants. Cambodia still faces over 600 square kilometres of cluster-munition-contaminated land that requires continued clearance.
Additionally, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch raised concerns over new humanitarian challenges arising from the 2025 Thai invasions. Explosive ordnance from the Thai incursions has affected nearly 4,000 square kilometres of land, with roughly 3,000 square kilometres estimated to be impacted by cluster munitions. This emerging situation has intensified the burden on Cambodia’s war legacy clearance efforts, underscoring the need for augmented international cooperation and technical assistance.
For his part, H.E. Thongsavan Phomvihane expressed gratitude to Cambodia for dispatching a high-level delegation to the conference, highlighting the strong bilateral ties between the two nations as neighbours and fellow ASEAN members.
He also stressed the importance of continued cooperation and knowledge-sharing between Laos and Cambodia in addressing legacy unexploded ordnance (UXO), particularly cluster munitions remnants stemming from the Vietnam War era.
