Speech of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN MANET, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and President of the National Committee for Disaster Management at the Opening of the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) and 14th Conference of the Parties to AADMER (COP to AADMER) and Related Meetings

• Excellencies Ministers-in-Charge of Disaster Management of the ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste;
• Excellencies Ministers of the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea;
• Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen!

            Today, I am pleased to warmly welcome all distinguished delegates and participants of the 13^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) and 14^th Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (COP to AADMER) under the theme “20 Years of AADMER: ASEAN Vision for Global Leadership in Disaster Resilience.”

            It is a great honor for Cambodia to assume the chairmanship of the AMMDM and COP to AADMER in 2025, at a crucial time when ASEAN is striving to consolidate its vision of global leadership in disaster resilience. I recall that this is the third time Cambodia has had the honor of hosting the AMMDM: the first in 2004, and the second in 2015. Since its signing in 2005, AADMER has become the cornerstone of our collective commitment to prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery across the region.

            May I take this opportunity to express appreciation to the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) in guiding and overseeing the implementation of the AADMER Work Programme 2021-2025, as well as the Governing Board of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), in providing guidance on the operationalization of the AHA Centre.

Accomplishments in both policy and operational fronts are essential in achieving the aspirations of the AADMER, and ASEAN Leaders’ declarations, in accordance with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Strategic Plan as well as other Strategic Plans.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

            Disasters, in all forms, remain a constant challenge to all nations. Whether large or small, each disaster leaves profound impacts on people and societies. Under the intensifying threat of climate change, disasters are occurring with greater frequency, severity, and unpredictability. Recent occurrences, such as devastating earthquakes, floods, and tropical cyclones, have resulted in high death tolls and significant damage.

            From Cambodia’s perspective, there is a need to differentiate disaster relief actions in urban areas from those in rural areas, particularly for floods. With growing urbanization and shifting demographics, the existing infrastructure in urban areas is unable to support the rapidly growing size of population using them or to endure the frequency and magnitude of adverse natural disasters. When it comes to mass evacuations in rural areas, it can be difficult to find safe gathering places—ideally with roofs—with access to clean water and sanitary facilities. As a result, vulnerable groups—particularly women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities — are being put at further extreme risk.

            In the face of these challenges, our collective actions not only focus on the immediate disaster relief and urgent needs of the people but also aim at the long-term reconstruction or redesign of infrastructure that is more resilient to climate change, both in urban and rural areas. Beyond the challenges in terms of financial resources and hard infrastructure, we must recognize that capacity, knowledge, and experiences in disaster management are uneven within the region.

            I believe that many could agree to the above observations, and therefore, to ensure a comprehensive and robust disaster management and emergency response system, ASEAN needs a flexible and innovative implementation of the AADMER. Thus far, we have successfully implemented three AADMER Work Programmes. As reported by His Excellency Senior Minister Kun Kim, I am pleased to note the official launch of the fourth AADMER Work Programme 2026-2030 at the 13^th AMMDM.

            20 years have passed since the AADMER was signed in 2005. I noted with great satisfaction many concrete achievements made through the implementation of successive AADMER Work Programmes by ACDM and partners under the strategic guidance of the AMMDM.

            As ASEAN is envisioning global leadership in disaster management, we look forward to the establishment of regular consultation mechanisms with more ASEAN external partners at AMMDM level in the near future.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

            To further rejuvenate our disaster management efforts, I wish to highlight five key priorities for our collective attention:

• Enhancing preparedness through stronger early warning systems and predictive capabilities to address emerging challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and cascading disasters.
• Promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships by engaging the private sector, academia, and civil society to foster innovation and mobilize resources.
• Leveraging technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence, geospatial tools, and data analytics, to enhance precision and efficiency of disaster response.
• Strengthening global linkages by building on ASEAN’s partnerships with international institutions, such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), to align strategies with the Sendai Framework.
• Sharing ASEAN’s knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned with other regions, particularly in community-based disaster risk management and cross-border collaboration.

            As we commemorate 20 years of AADMER’s shared achievements, we should be proud of the resilience we have built together through robust multilateral cooperation, shared strength, solidarity, mutual assistance, and most importantly, the sense of community.

            Cambodia firmly commits to working closely with all Member States and partners to further strengthen regional and international cooperation related to disaster management frameworks, and to advance the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

            Lastly, I wish the events fruitful deliberations and all delegates a pleasant stay in the Kingdom of Cambodia. May this meeting strengthen ASEAN’s unity and chart a stronger path toward resilience.

            I now declare the opening of the 13^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management, and the 14^th Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response and Related Meetings!