PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has called for stronger international cooperation to combat transnational crime, cybercrime and online scams, with Prime Minister Hun Manet warning that increasingly sophisticated criminal activities cannot be effectively addressed by any country acting alone.
Speaking at the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Oct 15, Manet urged member states to strengthen information-sharing, law enforcement cooperation, capacity-building and cyber resilience to tackle growing threats linked to transnational criminal networks.
“In an increasingly digital world, cybercrime, online fraud and scams linked to transnational criminal activities are becoming more sophisticated and cannot be effectively addressed by any country acting alone,” he said.
Manet noted that Cambodia supports practical international cooperation to disrupt criminal networks, protect victims and improve countries’ ability to respond to emerging cyber threats. He stressed that such cooperation must respect national sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter, and focus on building mutual trust rather than geopolitical rivalry.
Cambodia’s recent hosting of an international conference on combating online scams demonstrated its commitment to addressing the problem, he suggested.
The conference brought together participants from 26 countries and seven international organisations, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol and the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Centre.
Manet noted that the adoption of the Phnom Penh Declaration at the conference further underscored Cambodia’s commitment to disrupting transnational criminal networks, protecting victims and strengthening international cooperation.
Online scam operations have become a major concern across the region, with criminal networks exploiting digital technology and cross-border connections to defraud victims and conduct other illegal activities.
Manet’s remarks placed the fight against transnational crime among four priorities Cambodia wants to advance through CICA, alongside institutional development, deeper economic cooperation and stronger coordination between regional and international organisations.
“Let us therefore continue to bridge our differences through dialogue, strengthen mutual confidence through concrete cooperation and uphold international law as the common foundation of relations among nations,” he said. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
