Senior minister Ly Thuch addresses the 81st session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on April 21, in Bangkok, Thailand. Supplied
Cambodia has urged its fellow Asia-Pacific nations to deepen regional cooperation in building resilient and sustainable cities, highlighting its own transformation from post-conflict recovery to forward-looking urban development.
Speaking at the 81st session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on April 21 in Bangkok, Thailand, senior minister Ly Thuch shared how risks such as climate disasters, infrastructure gaps and resource pressures demand shared solutions.
“The answers to these challenges lie not in isolation, but in cooperation,” he told the assembled delegates, as the session convened under the theme “Regional cooperation for resilient and sustainable urban development”.
Thuch traced Cambodia’s journey from the ruins left by the Khmer Rouge in 1979 to the emergence of cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap as dynamic centres of trade and opportunity.
He credited this progress to decades of focused policy under former Prime Minister Hun Sen, including the Rectangular Strategy which prioritised peace, infrastructure and economic growth.
“Just four decades ago, Cambodia’s cities were silent,” Thuch said.
“The fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979 left Phnom Penh empty and many provinces abandoned. The land was unsafe, scarred by landmines. Our cities had no voice — only ruins and fear,” he added.
While Cambodia has not experienced major disasters in recent years, he referenced the recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, as a reminder of regional vulnerability.
“We are not immune,” he warned.
“These events are a powerful reminder that resilience must be built before the storm arrives — and that we must learn from one another,” he added.
He emphasised the importance of learning from regional examples, including Japan’s earthquake-resistant infrastructure and Indonesia’s community-based disaster response.
“This is the value of regional cooperation,” he said.
Thuch noted that under the seventh-mandate government of Hun Manet, Cambodia remains committed to sustainable urban development.
Phase one of the government’s Pentagonal Strategy prioritises clean energy and inclusive cities, with a pledge to source 70 per cent of the country’s energy from clean sources by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
“This is not just a climate goal — it is a growth strategy,” explained Thuch.
He also highlighted the Phnom Penh Sustainable City Plan 2018–2030, developed with support from ASEAN and ESCAP partners, and the Kingdom’s active role in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network.
As Cambodia moves closer to graduating from the Least Developed Country category, Ly concluded with a call to action.
“Let us build cities where digital technology drives inclusion, where clean energy powers homes and hospitals, where people of all backgrounds find dignity and opportunity,” he said.
“Cambodia stands ready to share, to learn and to grow — together with all of you,” he continued.
The 81st session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will take place from April 21 to 25 at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok.
Government official and key stakeholders will discuss inclusive, sustainable development in the region. The session aims to advance inclusive urban growth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
