Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing Meets Hun Sen in Cambodia in Push for Regional Ties

Myanmar president Min Aung Hlaing met Cambodia's acting Head of State Hun Sen in Phnom Penh on Friday, pressing ahead with efforts to rebuild ties with fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The two leaders entered a ceremonial hall together, where a band played in welcome and they were flanked by guards and officials. They later walked hand in hand before sitting down for bilateral talks with delegations from both sides. Hun Sen was seen speaking during the discussions, while Min Aung Hlaing listened and later addressed the conference. The meeting took place at the Senate building, where the Cambodian and Myanmar flags were on display.

The visit is Min Aung Hlaing's fourth to an ASEAN member state as he works to restore his standing within the 11-member bloc. Since being sworn in as president in April, following an election that critics say was designed to entrench the military's grip on power, he has stepped up engagements aimed at normalising diplomatic relations and securing international legitimacy.

His outreach is part of an attempt to rebuild regional ties that deteriorated after he ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in February 2021. Critics warn that such visits could weaken ASEAN's collective efforts to address Myanmar's conflicts.