Phnom penh: President of the Cambodian Senate, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, has called on global parliamentarians to bolster parliamentary diplomacy, emphasizing the need for mutual trust and collaboration to prevent geopolitical tensions from escalating into larger regional conflicts.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who also serves as Chairman of the 2nd Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference (ISC-2), addressed the audience during the conference's opening ceremony in Phnom Penh. He highlighted that the gathering should be seen not only as an occasion for exchanging pleasantries but as a significant platform for lawmakers to fulfill their responsibilities in safeguarding their nations and peoples.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen urged parliamentarians worldwide to approach the rapidly changing global landscape with clarity and realism, as the world navigates an increasingly complex geopolitical climate. He stressed the importance of preparing for worst-case scenarios while striving for optimal outcomes, noting the challenges posed by the turbulent international order.
He also emphasized the need for reassessing the role of political power and parliamentary diplomacy, advocating for legislative and executive bodies to work in tandem to address emerging challenges and prevent crises. Samdech Techo Hun Sen believes that parliaments play a crucial role in helping governments anticipate crises and prepare appropriate responses before conflicts escalate.
Moreover, Samdech Techo Hun Sen underscored the potential of parliamentary diplomacy to act as an early-warning system, enabling countries to communicate and coordinate international mechanisms to prevent crises from escalating into full-scale wars. He highlighted the importance of legislative institutions in fostering mutual trust among nations, which is vital for collective responses to regional threats.
In his remarks, Samdech Techo Hun Sen also called for legislative institutions to courageously speak out against dangerous ambitions and establish cooperation fronts to prevent destabilizing forces. He urged parliamentarians to maintain regular communication and enhance the role of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting multilateralism.
He concluded by identifying three contemporary forms of war faced by countries: military weakening, economic undermining, and damage to national reputation. The ISC-2 conference, held from August 26 to 28 in Phnom Penh, provided a platform for dialogue on major international challenges and the role of parliaments in fostering peace, stability, cooperation, and multilateralism.