Cambodia will host the 2nd Asia Pacific Summit on November 19 at the Peace Palace in collaboration with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

An official said government representatives from 146 countries are set to attend the summit.

It will highlight the positive results of collaboration with civil society organisations in building peace and reconciling disputes, facilitating development, promoting prosperity and resolving other problems in society.

Council of Ministers’ spokesman Ek Tha told The Post on Monday that nearly 400 of 600 guests who were invited had confirmed their attendance.

Government leaders from 146 countries had been invited to the summit. Meanwhile, 99 parliamentarians, 33 journalist institutions, 22 universities, 50 NGOs and 22 representatives from the trading sector were also invited.

Prime Minister Hun Sen is due to have bilateral meetings with several heads of state and governments.

Besides the 2nd Asia Pacific Summit, the festival on peace and nation-building and the festival on Asia cultures for peace and development will be held on November 20 at Koh Pich Exhibition and Conventional Centre.

Last year, Hun Sen led a large delegation to attend the 1st Asia Pacific summit held in Nepal to express Cambodia’s strongest commitment to initiating the summit. The organisers had met with the prime minister to consider the possibility of Cambodia hosting it this year, Tha said.

The UPF considers Cambodia a model country which had survived a painful past by peaceful means such as reconciliation and the introduction of Hun Sen’s win-win policy in 1998 to end the civil war.

Furthermore, the policy had brought about religious practices and other beliefs in line with national and international law, peacebuilding, and sustainable development for the common good, Tha said.

Adhoc spokesman Soeng Sen Karuna said his organisation had not received an invitation to the Asia Pacific summit and he doesn’t know if local civil society organisations would be invited.

Rights group Licadho’s senior investigator Am Sam Ath and Affiliated Network for Social Accountability executive director San Chey said their organisations had not received an invitation either. However, they will welcome it if there is an invitation from the government.

Tha said Hun Sen will deliver an opening speech at the summit on November 19 at 9.30am. He will also deliver his speeches at the youth and family events to be held at Koh Pich Centre on November 30 at 10am.