In a lecture hosted by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in Jakarta on May 6, 2025, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia and former Prime Minister, shared reflections on Cambodia’s experience in building peace after decades of conflict
Speaking to scholars, diplomats, and students at the ERIA School of Government’s Leadership Lecture Series, Samdech Techo discussed the role of dialogue, trust, and political will in shaping Cambodia’s post-conflict recovery. The session also explored how these principles could support long-term stability across Southeast Asia.
From Conflict to Reconciliation
In his lecture, “Peace and National Reconciliation in Cambodia: Lessons for Southeast Asia”, Hun Sen outlined how the Win-Win Policy, introduced in 1998, helped bring about full peace and territorial unity in Cambodia—without violence.
He also shared personal reflections on decisions made during critical periods, including his choice to seek support from Viet Nam in 1977 to help end the Khmer Rouge regime. He emphasized the importance of preserving historical truth and understanding the cost of conflict.
“Without Viet Nam’s support, no country would have dared to overthrow the bloody regime,” he said.
Regional Significance
ERIA School of Government Dean, Prof. Nobuhiro Aizawa, noted that Cambodia’s experience had shaped Southeast Asia’s broader stability:
“Without the leadership of Samdech Techo and the Cambodian people in overcoming the tragedy of the 1970s, our region would not be as secure as it is today.”
Prof. Aizawa called Cambodia’s reconciliation a “peace dividend” that benefited the entire region, and underscored the importance of documenting such leadership experiences to guide future generations.
Building Trust Beyond Borders
ERIA President Prof. Tetsuya Watanabe added that Hun Sen’s role extended beyond Cambodia, contributing to regional diplomacy and integration:
“Through decades of commitment, Samdech Techo helped transform Cambodia and played a key role in strengthening trust within ASEAN.”
He also noted Cambodia’s contributions to ERIA’s founding and long-standing support for regional cooperation.
Lessons for the Future
Throughout his address, Hun Sen emphasized that peace must be approached as a shared responsibility. He urged future policymakers to invest in dialogue, reconciliation, and inclusive development to maintain long-term stability.
He also reminded the audience that Cambodia’s progress did not happen overnight. Rebuilding governance, reviving the economy, and unifying society were long processes that required consistency and negotiation—not force.
Closing Reflection
For ERIA and its School of Government, the lecture served as both a historical reflection and an invitation for the next generation to learn from Southeast Asia’s recent past. Cambodia’s experience shows that sustainable peace is achievable—and that leadership, when grounded in dialogue and inclusivity, plays a central role in that process.