(Tokyo): Cambodian Minister of Post and Telecommunications Chea Vandeth led a Cambodian delegation to attend the Second In-person Meeting of the Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group on 15-16 March 2026, in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting was held at the invitation of Hayashi Yoshimasa, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan.

The event brought together ministers, senior officials in digital affairs, international organisations, and leading technology companies from member countries.

During the meeting, Minister Chea Vandeth delivered a keynote address on artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and governance. He highlighted Cambodia’s progress and vision, emphasising the need for international cooperation to address shared challenges and to ensure AI is developed and used responsibly. He stressed key principles including transparency, fairness, and a human-centric approach that prioritises well-being.

On the sidelines, Minister Chea Vandeth held a bilateral meeting with Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa. The two leaders exchanged updates on their respective AI initiatives and welcomed the progress made under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed in January. Discussions also covered broader collaboration in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital skills development, and AI.

Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Cambodia–Japan cooperation in digital technology and artificial intelligence for mutual benefit.

The meeting also featured multi-stakeholder roundtables and breakout sessions, where public sector representatives and AI industry experts shared experiences, challenges, and solutions related to AI governance and implementation.

The Hiroshima AI Process, launched by the G7 in 2023, aims to advance international cooperation on AI governance. Cambodia joined the Friends Group in May 2024. In 2025, the Partners’ Community was introduced to include private sector and international organisation participation.

As of March 2026, the initiative includes 66 member countries in the Friends Group, alongside the European Union, and 38 partners from international organisations and major global technology companies.
=FRESH NEWS