Phnom Penh, 28 August 2026 — Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, on Friday delivered the closing remarks at the Second Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC-2), calling on parliaments to strengthen dialogue, uphold international law and translate political commitments into concrete action for peace and shared prosperity.
 
The closing ceremony took place at the General Department of Taxation Conference Tower in Phnom Penh, concluding the conference held under the theme “Solidarity for Peace and Shared Prosperity: Strengthening International Law and Resolving Conflicts Peacefully.”
 
On behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate and Chair of ISC-2, Samdech Khuon Sudary thanked the parliamentary leaders, delegates and Organizing Committee for contributing to the conference’s success and fruitful outcomes.
 
She said the discussions had reaffirmed the power of dialogue and the vital role of parliamentary diplomacy in building trust, bridging differences and promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.
 
Samdech Khuon Sudary noted that the world was at a critical and increasingly dangerous juncture, marked by geopolitical rivalries, armed conflicts, territorial and sovereignty disputes, and growing non-traditional security threats.
 
She warned that the erosion of global governance, selective adherence to international law and a growing deficit of strategic trust were deepening global divisions. The weaponization of trade, technology, critical minerals and supply chains was also threatening peace and shared prosperity.
 
“No country can address these challenges alone. We therefore need to think together, act together and build trust together,” she stressed.
 
She called for stronger international rules, norms and institutions, people-centred cooperation, preventive diplomacy and effective mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
 
Samdech Khuon Sudary also urged the international community to reject “the rule of the jungle” and the notion that “might is right.”
 
Against this backdrop, she said parliamentary diplomacy had an increasingly important role in promoting dialogue and confidence-building, fostering shared values and building bridges across geopolitical divides.
 
She emphasized that lasting peace and stability were inseparable from sustainable development. Climate action, economic resilience, poverty reduction and inclusive development were essential to addressing the root causes of instability.
 
Political commitments, she added, must be translated into tangible results through close and effective coordination between the executive and legislative branches.
 
In this regard, Samdech Khuon Sudary supported the proposal by Samdech Techo Hun Sen to establish an international network of eminent parliamentarian mediators. The proposed network would complement existing mediation mechanisms and help turn shared commitments into practical action.
 
Reaffirming Cambodia’s commitment to peace, she stressed that international law and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.
 
“We must never accept the use of force to alter international boundaries,” she said, adding that peace must never be taken for granted because it can be destroyed in a moment but may take years or even decades to restore.
 
Quoting Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, she said: “Peace makes development possible; resilience protects its achievements; shared prosperity strengthens social cohesion; and stronger social cohesion, in turn, makes peace more durable.”
 
Samdech Khuon Sudary emphasized that peace is indivisible and interconnected, as no country can enjoy lasting stability while its neighbours face crisis or instability.
 
She called for connectivity to become a force for peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity, while urging countries to turn their interdependence into a shared responsibility for the common good.
 
A key outcome of ISC-2 was the adoption of the Phnom Penh Declaration, embodying the conference’s collective voice and commitment. The declaration sets out priorities and practical pathways towards a more peaceful, just, equitable and prosperous world through a people-centred approach.
 
It reaffirms the peaceful settlement of disputes through diplomacy and dialogue in accordance with international law, supports open and effective multilateralism, and calls for accelerated implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Samdech Khuon Sudary emphasized that people’s aspirations and well-being must remain at the heart of parliamentary cooperation.
 
“As parliamentarians, we have a shared responsibility to ensure that our people can live in peace, dignity, harmony and prosperity,” she said.
 
She congratulated and thanked the Senate of Indonesia for assuming the chairmanship of the Third Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference and expressed her expectation that parliamentary leaders would meet again in Indonesia.
 
“Let us carry forward the spirit of Phnom Penh not only in words, but in our actions,” she said. “Let us continue to build bridges where there are divides, choose dialogue over confrontation, uphold international law, and work together for a world in which peace and prosperity are shared by all.”