According to a report by Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com), Oum Sarith, Spokesperson for the Cambodian Senate, issued an official public response addressing external questions and criticisms regarding Cambodia’s reception of Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing on September 11. He emphasized that Cambodia consistently adheres to ASEAN’s core principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states, and that the reception arrangements were in line with ASEAN diplomatic practices and international norms.
Speaking at a press conference that afternoon, Oum Sarith stated that this reception was not an isolated incident. Prior to this, President Min Aung Hlaing had visited Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, receiving official receptions of the same level; such visits represent routine bilateral diplomatic interactions among ASEAN nations.
Addressing one-sided criticisms from some quarters regarding Min Aung Hlaing’s status as leader, Oum Sarith pointed out that such remarks reflect the subjective preferences of certain countries based on their own positions rather than a unified international consensus. He further noted that the issue of international recognition for the Myanmar government is not something a single country like Cambodia can determine; even nations that have publicly criticized Min Aung Hlaing’s administration have not withdrawn their ambassadors from Myanmar and continue to maintain normal diplomatic engagement with Myanmar’s official authorities.
Oum Sarith articulated his position by posing a rhetorical question: Min Aung Hlaing was elected by Myanmar’s parliament and assumed the presidency in accordance with the law, and to date, no country has explicitly refused to recognize his legitimate status by withdrawing its ambassador. If countries continue diplomatic cooperation with Myanmar’s current government, mere criticism in public opinion lacks substantive meaning and contradicts the principle of diplomatic reciprocity.
Additionally, drawing on Cambodia’s own diplomatic history, Oum Sarith noted that Cambodia had previously faced international questioning and non-recognition regarding the legitimacy of its own government. However, other nations ultimately engaged in normal relations and cooperation with Cambodia’s legitimate authorities based on the principle of pragmatic cooperation. By analogy, countries should respect Myanmar’s independent path of development and its legitimate system of governance.
This visit to Cambodia marks the fourth stop in Min Aung Hlaing’s tour of ASEAN nations in 2026. Following visits to Laos in July, Thailand in August, and Vietnam in September of this year, Cambodia became a key stop in his series of state visits to ASEAN nations. Records indicate that Min Aung Hlaing was officially sworn in as President of Myanmar on April 10, 2026, following the completion of the country's national elections in late 2025. During the inauguration ceremony, Cambodia dispatched a special envoy, Cham Prasidh, to attend the event and personally deliver a congratulatory letter to Min Aung Hlaing, thereby maintaining friendly diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
