PHNOM PENH, May 8, 2024 – Dr. Ly Thuch, First Vice President of the Mine Authority and President of the 2024 Ottawa Convention, revealed Cambodia's proactive stance in promoting globalization through various channels with 33 countries yet to become States Parties to the Convention.

Dr. Ly Thuch, speaking during an online session of the Universalization Coordinating Group of the Ottawa Convention on May 7, 2024, emphasized Prime Minister Hun Manet's efforts in mobilizing and lobbying these countries to join the Convention. The list of non-party countries includes Bahrain, Laos, the Micronesian islands, Nepal, Tonga, Vietnam, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lebanon, Mongolia, and Singapore.

The Senior Minister outlined the diplomatic initiatives undertaken by Cambodia, including engagement through diplomatic channels, diplomatic notes, participation in UN-ESCAP Summit and relevant meetings, bilateral dialogues, and seeking cooperation from these countries to join the Convention.

Highlighting recent efforts, Dr. Ly Thuch mentioned official and informal meetings with Fiji, Tonga, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia during the 80th Annual Meeting of the Economic Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in April 2024.