The first sitting of the 7th Cambodian National Assembly (NA) officially opened on August 21 morning, nearly one month after the general election that took place on July 23.
King Norodom Sihamoni addresses the inaugural session of the seventh legislative term of Cambodian National Assembly on August 21. (Photo: phnompenhpost.com)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The first sitting of the 7th Cambodian National Assembly (NA) officially opened on August 21 morning, nearly one month after the general election that took place on July 23.
All 125 lawmakers who were elected to the legislative body at the 7th National Assembly election on July 23 attended the event. Of these, 120 were from the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and five from the FUNCINPEC.
Speaking at the event, King Sihamoni expressed his pleasure to attend the opening ceremony of the first sitting of the 7th National Assembly and warmly congratulated all parliamentarians who represent the will and trust of the people through the recent general election.
The King emphasised that since the Cambodian NA was established in 1993, for the last 30 years, from a divided country, Cambodia has become a country of peace, stability, and democracy and developed all areas. Cambodians now can live in peace, well-being, and hope.
King Sihamoni believes that the Royal Government of Cambodia in the new term will gain the NA’s trust and well perform its tasks in line with the country’s policy of promoting economic growth, improving people's living standards, continuing to strengthen and develop its social protection system, preserving and developing its culture sustainably, ensuring the permanence of national identity, promoting socio-economic development along with upholding the moral foundation for the harmonisation of the nation.
After the opening session, the 7th NA of Cambodia held its first session under the chair of Samdech Heng Samrin, 89 years old, the oldest elected lawmaker in the NA in the new term to approve the mandate of each NA member and the internal rules of the NA for the 7th mandate.
According to a tentative schedule, the lawmakers will perform the swearing-in ceremony at the Royal Palace of Cambodia on August 21 afternoon./.
Maj. Gen. Pham Truong Son, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), hosted a reception in Hanoi on August 18 for Lieut. Gen. Neum Balen, head of the Operations Department under the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces High Command.
The Cambodian Ministries of Environment and of Culture and Fine Arts have identified 27 with cultural heritage sites out of 73 protected natural areas in the Southeast Asian nation.
A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien attended the 15th Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam Economic Ministers' Meeting (CLMV EMM 15) in Semarang city, Indonesia on August 18.
Cambodia and Indonesia reached an agreement for the latter to buy 125,000 tonnes of rice from the former at a recent meeting between Cambodian Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak and Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pahala Nugraha Mansury in Phnom Penh.
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
King Norodom Sihamoni addresses the inaugural session of the seventh legislative term of Cambodian National Assembly on August 21. (Photo: phnompenhpost.com) 
