Phnom Penh (FN), Feb. 24 – Kim Virak, Secretary-General of the National Disaster Management Committee, on Monday (Feb. 24), opened the final planning meeting for the ASEAN Regional Disaster Response Exercise 2025 (ARDEX-25) at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Hotel.

The meeting was attended by Lee Yam Ming, Executive Director of the AHA Center, Igor Driesmans, Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia, representatives from ASEAN member states, and officials from relevant national and sub-national authorities in Cambodia.

During the meeting, Kim Virak, on behalf of Kun Kim, Senior Minister and First Vice-Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, expressed his pleasure in inviting ASEAN member states, stakeholders and development partners to participate in Cambodia's hosting of the final planning meeting for ARDEX-25.

Kim Virak highlighted Cambodia's pride in hosting ARDEX-25 in July 2025. He noted that the Royal Government of Cambodia, along with the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), will jointly organize this significant event in collaboration with the AHA Center, embodying the spirit of ASEAN's unity.

He emphasized that the ASEAN region is particularly vulnerable to weather-related and natural hazards due to climate change. In this context, he stated that ASEAN's disaster management efforts are being effectively implemented and are critically important, especially in relation to ARDEX, which aims to enhance disaster response capabilities both regionally and beyond.

Kim Virak mentioned that this would be the second time Cambodia has hosted the regional exercise, with the full support of the AHA Center. ARDEX-25 aims to conduct a comprehensive exercise, including a Tabletop Exercise (TTX), a Command and Control Exercise (CPX), and a Field Training Exercise (FTX). These activities will serve as thorough tests and reviews of the national coordination mechanism and the regional disaster response system.

He concluded by expressing hope that hosting ARDEX-25 will strengthen regional mechanisms and enhance disaster response capacity, particularly in terms of regional or international assistance.
=FRESH NEWS