AKP Phnom Penh, January 21, 2026 --

Cambodia’s Minister of Information, H.E. Neth Pheaktra, confirmed today that the annual meeting between the Prime Minister and journalists, scheduled for May 3, 2026, has been postponed.

The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the Ministry of Information’s 2025 review and 2026 direction-setting meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters in Phnom Penh this afternoon. 

H.E. Neth Pheaktra stated, “For the meeting between Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and journalists planned for May 3 this year, I requested a postponement, and Samdech Thipadei agreed. Therefore, this year we will not have a large-scale gathering of 5,000 to 6,000 participants as in previous years.”

The Minister cited national priorities as the reason for the delay. “This is because our nation is facing invasion. We are saving budget resources to help our displaced families and to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by the invading Thai forces,” he explained.

He added that the postponement should not be a cause for concern, emphasising that there remains ample time to organise the event in the future.

The annual Prime Minister-Journalist Forum, traditionally held around Jan. 14, was initiated by former Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. It provides a platform for media representatives to directly discuss issues, raise concerns, and submit requests to the head of Royal Government for review and resolution.

Since its inception in 2017, the forum has been held seven times up to 2025. It was suspended in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent forum was held on May 3, 2025, featuring Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, the current Prime Minister of Cambodia.

Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet (C) takes selfies with journalists at the 7th Annual Gathering with media leaders, spokespersons, information officers and journalists from across the country on May 3, 2025

By K. Rithy Reak