Phnom Penh: On the morning of October 17, 2024, CPP President Hun Sen, President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia, warmly welcomed Mr. Christian Lechervy, Ambassador and Special Envoy of France responsible for Myanmar, at the 7 Makara Palace in Phnom Penh. 

Hun Sen expressed his heartfelt welcome to Ambassador Lechervy, who is visiting Cambodia at this pivotal time. He convey his appreciation to President Emmanuel Macron for the warm hospitality extended to His Majesty the King of Cambodia during his recent participation in the Francophonie Summit held in France. Hun Sen noted that Cambodia is scheduled to host the Francophonie Summit in 2026, marking an important transition from France in Europe to Cambodia in Asia.

Ambassador Christian Lechervy remarked that hosting His Majesty the King was a significant honor for France and emphasized that the success of the upcoming Francophonie Summit would further affirm the importance of the organization in promoting economic prosperity and world peace. He congratulated Cambodia on the upcoming summit and expressed confidence that it would be a "great success."

The Ambassador recalled a previous meeting between Hun Sen and President Macron in December 2022 during the 50th Anniversary of the ASEAN-EU Partnership, where they discussed various economic and political issues, including the quest for peace in Myanmar. This subject led Ambassador Lechervy to seek further discussions with Hun Sen concerning potential collaborative efforts to resolve the situation in Myanmar.

He elaborated on the appointment of the French special envoy to Myanmar as a testament to international efforts, particularly from Europe, aimed at finding sustainable solutions for peace in the region. President Macron has encouraged friends and allies of France to play a supportive role in addressing the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

Since the onset of the Myanmar crisis in February 2021, Hun Sen has actively sought peaceful solutions, both within the framework of ASEAN and through direct engagement with Myanmar’s leadership. The Ambassador reaffirmed France's commitment to supporting ASEAN efforts, including humanitarian assistance initiatives for victims in collaboration with organizations such as the Myanmar Red Cross.

The discussions highlighted the urgency of humanitarian assistance for the Myanmar people, which can only be realized through a political resolution. Ambassador Lechervy underlined that the current crisis has evolved beyond Myanmar, affecting regional and global dynamics, and emphasized France's readiness to support ASEAN's five-point consensus.

In response, Hun Sen expressed gratitude for France's acknowledgment of his role in addressing the Myanmar crisis. He reflected on his previous discussions with President Macron, which included important conversations about Myanmar and Ukraine. Hun Sen recalled Macron expressing confidence in his leadership and encouraged him to continue his efforts for peace.

Furthermore, Hun Sen conveyed appreciation for France’s strategic appointment of a special envoy focusing on Myanmar, viewing it as a contribution to regional stability. He stressed the necessity of ASEAN's unity in resolving the Myanmar crisis and recalled the ratification of the five-point consensus during a meeting in Indonesia.

During the meeting, Hun Sen shared insights from his experience negotiating peace in Cambodia during the 1980s and 1990s, emphasizing the fundamental need for dialogue and collaboration with all parties involved. He expressed concern that the existing five-point consensus might be outdated due to the evolving conflict in Myanmar, which now resembles a civil war rather than the previous insurgencies.

Expressing optimism, Hun Sen said that he was advocated for innovative approaches that could lead to a negotiated solution, reiterating that a military response would not effectively resolve the ongoing crisis. He summarized his encounters with Myanmar's leadership, including a significant meeting in 2022, and expressed satisfaction that his recommendations for a non-political representative to participate in an ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting had been accepted by Myanmar.

Ambassador Lechervy thanked Hun Sen for sharing valuable insights and experiences from Cambodia's peace process, indicating his commitment to work collaboratively with other regional actors and French-speaking nations to seek resolutions for Myanmar.

Hun Sen wished Ambassador Lechervy every success in his important mission, reaffirming Cambodia's dedication to fostering peace and stability both regionally and internationally.