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Myanmar’s president Min Aung Hlaing is paying a two-day visit to Cambodia, with four agreements expected to be signed, which has drawn scrutiny from human rights groups.
Cambodia is the latest ASEAN member to host the junta leader, following recent visits to Vietnam, Thailand and Russia as its government seeks to end its international isolation.
However, international human rights groups, including U.S.-based Fortify Rights and Human Rights Watch, have urged Cambodian leaders not to provide legitimacy to the junta, which they accused of conducting brutal military operations against civilians.
During the visit, Myanmar held a bilateral meeting with acting head of state Hun Sen, then-former Prime Minister, who stepped down from the office after more than 38 years, handing over power to his eldest son Hun Menet.
Both Hun Sen and Min Aun Hlaing held a discussion on strengthening relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues.
Cambodia and Myanmar have maintained diplomatic ties for about 70 years, according to Senate spokesperson Chea Thyrith at Friday’s press briefing.
He said the two leaders discussed ways to boost trade, investment, political cooperation and tourism between the two countries.
Thyrith played down questions about criticism calling Cambodia not to legitimize Min Aung Hlaing’s government, saying Cambodia follows ASEAN’s principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.
“We know that Min Aung Hlaing has already traveled to a neighboring country. What does this demonstrate about Min Aung Hlaing’s government?” Thyrith said.
He questioned why countries that criticize Min Aung Hlaing’s government had not withdrawn their diplomats from Myanmar if they did not recognize his administration.
“In Cambodia, we stand by ASEAN’s principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. I think our fellow citizens can judge this for themselves,” Thyrith said.
That said, he did not highlight ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, a framework for engagement that would allow the end to violence and ensure greater access for humanitarian assistance, among other conditions.
ASEAN and other blocs have barred Min Aung Hlaing from high-level summits since he ousted the democratically-elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the 2021 military coup.
Meanwhile, Thyrith said that the two leaders touched on the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, saying that Min Aung Hlaing “strongly supported” Cambodia’s efforts to resolve the dispute with Thailand through peaceful means and in accordance with international law.
Min Aun Hlaing’s visit would see four agreements being signed, following bilateral talks with Prime Minister Hun Manet, according to Thyrith.
Later, he met Prime Minister Hun Manet where bilateral talks were held, followed by the signing of four agreements covering double taxation and tax evasion, investment promotion and protection, cultural cooperation, and media and information cooperation.
He will also have a separate meeting with National Assembly president Khun Sodary and visit Siem Reap province on Saturday.
Independent Cambodian political analyst Seng Vanly warned that Cambodia risks giving Min Aung Hlaing a “political victory” and weakening regional pressure on junta military leadership without securing concrete commitments on peace and civilian protection.
“This matters because ASEAN continues to exclude Myanmar’s political representatives from its summits over its failure to implement the regional peace plan,” he said.
“Cambodia therefore risks weakening that pressure and appearing more concerned with relations between leaders than with the suffering of Myanmar’s people.”
He said that Cambodia should press for an end to attacks on civilians, humanitarian access, the release of political prisoners, and dialogue involving opposition and ethnic groups.
“The real measure of success should be improvements for Myanmar’s people, not greater international acceptance for its military-backed leadership,” he added.
Note: This article has been updated with information about four agreements signed between Cambodia and Myanmar.
