Tokyo to share advanced urban technology with Phnom Penh

Synopsis: Japan pledges intensified aid and technical expertise to bolster sustainable expansion, irrigation systems, and smart-city modernisation.

Tokyo will continue transferring advanced technologies and urban management expertise to Phnom Penh, strengthening the sister-city relationship between the two capitals, Phnom Penh City Hall said.

Phnom Penh municipal spokeswoman Dor Samphors made the statement following a working meeting between Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike during the Cambodian delegation’s official visit to Japan.

Sreng travelled to the Japanese capital on Monday to attend the 3rd Global Network for Sustainability (G-NETS) Leaders Summit.

During the meeting, Sreng briefed his counterpart on Phnom Penh’s rapid transformation, highlighting the government’s focus on infrastructure, including drainage networks, wastewater treatment, and solid waste management.

He said that Phnom Penh aims to become a “cleaner, greener, and more resilient city” by embracing smart-city solutions, such as advanced surveillance to enhance public order. Many of these improvements have been supported by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

In response, Governor Koike said that Tokyo launched the G-NETS initiative in 2022 to provide a platform for municipalities to exchange technical expertise and address global challenges.

Koike said she hopes Phnom Penh can contribute its urban development experience with fellow member cities while also gaining new ideas, particularly in disaster management and sustainable city planning.

Relations between Phnom Penh and Tokyo focus on urban resilience, public health infrastructure and cultural exchange. A milestone was reached on October 26, 2025 with the launch of direct flights between Phnom Penh and Tokyo Narita, aimed at strengthening business and diplomatic ties.