July 6, 2023
PHNOM PENH – Minister of Justice Koeut Rith is leading his ministry delegation for key meetings in Japan, aiming to boost cooperation in legal measures to counter crime and settle transnational commercial disputes. The main events – ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers and the ASEAN-G7 Special Meeting of Justice Ministers – take place on July 6-7 in the Japanese capital Tokyo.
Ministry spokesman Chin Malin relayed from Japan on July 5 that the ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers, hosted by Japan for the first time, is scheduled to take place on July 6 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN relations.
“In addition, apart from fortifying legal cooperation between Japan and ASEAN member states, the focus will be on mutual legal assistance, capacity building, information and legal document exchange, combating cross-border crime and resolving transnational commercial disputes,” he noted.
The ASEAN-G7 Special Meeting of Justice Ministers, also hosted by Japan for the first time, convenes on July 7 with identical objectives as the preceding assembly.
“The meeting concentrated on enhancing cooperation in legal matters, mutual capacity building, information and legal documentation exchange, transnational crime countermeasures, and settling commercial disputes,” he said.
The Group of Seven (G7) includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and UK.
The Cambodian delegation’s participation followed an invitation from Japanese deputy justice minister Hiroyuki Kada, who met with justice minister Koeut Rith on June 19 to bolster bilateral cooperation in law and justice sectors.
In a statement, the ministry extended gratitude to the UN Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) for providing technical support to Cambodian law enforcement through training initiatives.
Koeut Rith also expressed appreciation to the Japanese contingent for assenting to Cambodia’s request for continued assistance in the sixth phase of the law and justice sector development project.
He underscored that the aid was primarily directed towards human resources, judiciary strengthening and training the Royal Academy for Justice of Cambodia, including providing scholarships for justice ministry officials to study in Japan.
The minister appealed to the Japanese side for ongoing support in strengthening capacity and training human resources in the law and justice sector, specifically through granting scholarships for Cambodian students and civil servants in the justice field.