Cambodia’s First Professor to Deliver a Keynote Lecture at Sofia University, Bulgaria [VIDEO]

Topic: “Cambodia’s National Journey through Fifteen Eras”

Phnom Penh, November 5, 2025 — His Excellency Dr. Chea Chanboribo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Republic of Bulgaria, has become the first Cambodian scholar ever invited to deliver a keynote lecture at Sofia University, one of Bulgaria’s most prestigious educational institutions.

The invitation was extended by the university’s leadership, requesting His Excellency to present to students of the Faculty of History and Political Science on the topic “Cambodia’s National Journey through Fifteen Eras”. The lecture provided an in-depth exploration of Cambodia’s historical and political evolution — from the ancient Angkor era to the present day.

Dr. Chea Chanboribo described the event as a historic milestone, marking the first time Sofia University had hosted a Cambodian ambassador as a guest lecturer to share insights about Cambodia with international students. During his presentation, Dr. Chea Chanboribo utilized 153 slides and four documentary videos to comprehensively illustrate Cambodia’s historical trajectory.

Among the key highlights, he discussed pivotal moments in Cambodian history, such as the struggle for independence from France in 1953, achieved under the leadership of His Majesty King Father Norodom Sihanouk, which ended nearly a century of colonial rule. However, subsequent years saw political instability — most notably the 1970 coup d’état, which ousted King Sihanouk and transformed Cambodia from a monarchy into the Khmer Republic under General Lon Nol.

Dr. Chea Chanboribo further explained how the civil war that followed culminated in the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1975, led by Pol Pot, one of the most brutal genocidal regimes in modern history, responsible for the deaths of more than three million Cambodians. This dark chapter remains an unforgettable scar on the nation’s collective memory.

He recounted how, during this period of terror, Samdech Techo Hun Sen courageously defected from Cambodia, risking his life to seek assistance from Vietnam to form a resistance movement aimed at national liberation.

A documentary segment presented by Dr. Chea Chanboribo highlighted Cambodia’s liberation on January 7, 1979, when the genocidal regime was overthrown and the nation began the difficult process of rebuilding from devastation.

Dr. Chea Chanboribo emphasized Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s political philosophy — that “war cannot end war” — which became the foundation of Cambodia’s peace process. Guided by this belief, Hun Sen sought peaceful dialogue with King Father Norodom Sihanouk, initiating negotiations that lasted from 1985 to 1991 and eventually led to the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991.

Following peace restoration, Cambodia established a new constitution, a legislative assembly, and passed laws outlawing the Khmer Rouge. During this period, Hun Sen survived numerous assassination attempts, including a notable incident in Siem Reap, all of which failed.

Senior leaders of the former Khmer Rouge later joined the government under Hun Sen’s “Win-Win Policy”, paving the way for complete national peace and reconciliation.

Dr. Chea Chanboribo also highlighted that, after the final end of war in 1999, Cambodia entered a phase of national unification and economic reconstruction. Within just two years, the country began achieving remarkable economic growth, averaging over 7% annually for more than two decades until the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This sustained progress transformed Cambodia’s landscape — in infrastructure, economy, education, healthcare, and social development — making it one of the most rapidly advancing and politically stable nations in Southeast Asia.

He also noted that, under the leadership of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodia became an active member of numerous international and regional organizations, including ASEAN and the United Nations, while strengthening diplomatic relations with many partner countries — raising Cambodia’s profile and influence on the global stage.

In closing, Dr. Chea Chanboribo encouraged students to pursue deeper research into Cambodian history, emphasizing that “history is the interpretation of the future.”

It is noteworthy that the topic “Cambodia’s National Journey” forms part of Dr. Chea Chanboribo’s doctoral dissertation in Political Economy — a comprehensive 1,800-page study detailing Cambodia’s historical and political evolution from the Angkor era to the modern age of peace.