Her Excellency Academician Minister Phoeurng Sackona Welcomes US Assistant Secretary Cate Dillon at National Museum of Cambodia

On the afternoon of August 28, 2026, Her Excellency Academician Minister Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, welcomed Ms. Cate Dillon, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States, during a visit to the National Museum of Cambodia. The delegation was accompanied by leadership officials from the ministry and representatives from the US Embassy in Cambodia.

During the tour, Her Excellency emphasized the importance of the museum’s collections and its vital role in promoting Khmer culture and history. She highlighted key artifacts currently on display among the more than 900 cultural items repatriated to Cambodia from the United States. Her Excellency expressed deep appreciation to the US government for its ongoing support in protecting and conserving ancient Cambodian temples, as well as its close collaboration in combating the illicit trafficking and illegal export of Khmer antiquities lost during decades of war and crisis.

Additionally, Her Excellency thanked the US government for its continuous backing of Cambodia’s cultural sector. In 2026, through the Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grant (CPAIG), the United States provided $132,000 to fund the project “Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage through a Unified Database System and Capacity Building.” These achievements reflect the strong relationship and bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and the United States, framed by the landmark Cultural Property Agreement first signed in 2003.