AKP Phnom Penh, March 12, 2026 --

Cambodia has taken the lead in the Greater Mekong Subregion in combating misinformation with the launch of Phase 2 of the “Zero Fake News” Campaign today under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (LMC) Foundation.

The inception ceremony was held at the Ministry of Information in Phnom Penh, presided over by H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information, and H.E. Chen Cong, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Cambodia. The event brought together senior officials, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, media professionals, and digital content creators.

The "Zero Fake News" campaign-Phase 2 is designed with three strategies, including combating the spread of fake news within Cambodia and across the Greater Mekong Subregion; promoting verified reporting by professional media and digital content creators; and enhancing media literacy among the public in Cambodia and across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Participating countries include Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and China, with China fully sponsoring the project.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra stressed that the initiative represents not only a domestic effort but also a regional strategy to protect the cooperation and stability of the Greater Mekong Subregion from the harmful effects of misinformation.

“Through this cross-border campaign, we aim to raise awareness among the public about the risks of fake news, using written and audio messages, high-level discussions, and media networks across participating countries,” he said, highlighting that the campaign comes at a time when the rapid growth of digital media increasingly blurs the line between fact and fiction.

The campaign builds on the Ministry’s “Say No to Fake News!” initiative launched last year, which was implemented nationwide to reduce misinformation and ensure a secure information environment.

H.E. Chen Cong of the Chinese Embassy noted that, in the era of mobile internet and artificial intelligence-driven media, false information, disinformation, and fabricated content have become more prevalent and potentially dangerous. He stressed that some media outlets deliberately distort the truth to harm China-Cambodia relations, but these attempts will not succeed as long as both countries continue to fight fake news.

“Through this campaign, we hope to strengthen timely refutation of rumors, maintain objectivity and truth, and safeguard a healthy information environment to support bilateral friendship and practical cooperation,” he added. 

Over the past decade, Cambodia has implemented more than 100 projects under the LMC Foundation, including five led by the Ministry of Information.

By Chea Vannak