Meeting with Mr Stephen Bridges, Former British Ambassador to Cambodia during early 2000s

On 17 September 2025, Mr. Vanndasambath Chhuon, General Coordinator of the ASEAN-UK Young Leader Initiative (ASEAN-UK YLI), joined Mr. Martin Darby, Executive Director of BritCham Cambodia, in a meeting with Mr. Stephen Bridges, Former British Ambassador to Cambodia from 2000 to 2004.

During the meeting, we discussed the early stages of UK-Cambodia relations in a post-conflict society, emphasizing the importance of rebuilding bilateral ties through commitment on the ground. At that time, the UK was working with Cambodia to encourage the government to move beyond a simple aid program and focus more on economic, social, and political development. We also talked about the early days of the British Business Association in Cambodia (BBAC), now BritCham Cambodia, and how it operated by promoting and supporting British business and investment in Cambodia.

We would like to thank Ambassador Stephen for taking the time to meet with us. It is a great honor for ASEAN-UK YLI to hear his insights, which could enhance our second edition of the Cambodia-UK book at 75, following the launch of the first edition in 2023.

We also want to thank Ambassador Dominic Williams for connecting us with Ambassador Stephen Bridges.

Furthermore, as BritCham Cambodia gets ready to celebrate its 30th anniversary on November 15, 2025, the ASEAN-UK Young Leaders Initiative is proud to collaborate on producing the document with the Chamber, highlighting three decades of service and support for businesses between Cambodia and the United Kingdom.