AKP Phnom Penh, September 9, 2026 -- The Conciliation Commission constituted under Annex V to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will hold its first meeting with Cambodia and Thailand in Singapore from Sept. 14 to 16, 2026, according to an announcement by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia welcomed the meeting as an important next step in the peaceful process initiated by Cambodia to resolve the maritime differences between the two countries.

Cambodia will be represented by its Agent, H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and its Deputy Agent, H.E. Lam Chea, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs, together with the Cambodian delegation and legal team.

The opening statements by the Parties will take place on Sept. 15 at 8:00 a.m. Cambodia time (9:00 a.m. Singapore time) and will be open to the public and webcast live in Khmer, English and Thai. Cambodia’s opening statement will be delivered by H.E. Prak Sokhonn.

The meeting marks another milestone in the peaceful process initiated by Cambodia to resolve the two countries’ overlapping maritime claims. Cambodia resorted to compulsory conciliation after Thailand unilaterally terminated the agreed bilateral framework under which the two countries had negotiated their overlapping maritime claims for more than two decades.

According to the Ministry, compulsory conciliation under Annex V to UNCLOS is a non-adjudicatory process whereby a neutral commission assists the parties in seeking an amicable settlement.

The mechanism was previously used successfully by Timor-Leste and Australia, with their conciliation process culminating in the signing of a treaty establishing their maritime boundary in 2018.

Cambodia expressed hope that the process would similarly assist Cambodia and Thailand in reaching a fair and lasting resolution of their maritime differences, including potentially unlocking significant oil and gas resources for the benefit of both countries at a critical time for regional energy security.

The Ministry reaffirmed Cambodia’s firm belief that international law provides the foundation for the peaceful resolution of disputes between States.

“Cambodia enters these proceedings in good faith and in a spirit of cooperation, with full confidence in the Conciliation Commission,” the statement said.

By C. Nika