Cambodia Leads First ADEIC Meeting in Siem Reap to Boost ASEAN Military Education

Phnom Penh, November 6, 2026: Regional cooperation on defence education has entered a new phase with the first meeting of the ASEAN Defence Educational Institutions' Collaboration (ADEIC), held in Siem Reap province from Nov. 5 to 6, 2026, at the Prince Angkor Hotel.

The event was organised by the General Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, through its ASEAN Affairs Department in cooperation with the National Defence University, drawing broad participation from military education institutions, national defence universities and related bodies from ASEAN member states, as well as representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat.

The opening ceremony was presided over by H.E. General Nem Sowath, Director-General of the General Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs and Cambodia's ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting (ADSOM) Leader, as the high representative of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence H.E. General Tea Seiha.

In his opening remarks, H.E. General Nem Sowath stressed the importance of turning paper frameworks into practical and sustainable cooperation among ASEAN defence education institutions. He recalled that the adoption of the 2022 ADEIC Concept Paper and the 2025 Rules of Procedure served as strategic pillars for translating ASEAN defence ministers' commitments into concrete action to strengthen military professional education, build confidence and arrange institutional cooperation.

"The adoption of the ADEIC Concept Paper in 2022 and the Rules of Procedure in 2025 created a strong foundation to translate the commitments of ASEAN defence ministers into practical cooperation, to strengthen military professional education, institutional cooperation and confidence-building among ASEAN member states," he said.

He added that shared commitment and effort would develop ADEIC into an effective, inclusive and sustainable cooperation platform contributing to stronger military professionalism, closer institutional ties, ASEAN unity and regional peace and stability.

ADEIC was Cambodia's own initiative and recommendation, adopted at the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in 2022 with the aim of building networks and strengthening regional resilience. The first meeting in Siem Reap follows Cambodia's successful hosting of three prior workshops on the initiative.

Reported by The Khmer Today