Who is he?

Chum Bun Rong was most recently an adviser to the government of Cambodia. He has served in a number of official roles, including as adviser to the prime minister and as secretary-general of the Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority. Bun Rong also served as the deputy director for the National Authority for Land Dispute Resolution, a government agency created by Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

Bun Rong served as an army second lieutenant during the administration of President Lon Nol in the early 1970s. After the ouster of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, Bung Rong took a position as head of the Foreign Ministry’s press department under then-foreign minister Hun Sen and later was a spokesman for the ministry.

Why is he in the news?

King Norodom Sihamoni in early March appointed Chum Bun Rong the new ambassador of Cambodia to the United States and Mexico. Bun Rong will replace outgoing ambassador Hem Heng, and is expected to take up his post in mid-June.

What can we expect from him?

Expect Chum Bun Rong to take on a more engaged and proactive approach than previous Cambodian ambassadors. In a meeting with Cambodian lawmakers, Bun Rong pledged to organize a census of Cambodian residents and investors in the United States in order to better understand their interests. His priority will be to promote Cambodia’s image in the United States as a place open for business and investment.

Thumbnail image source: Wikimedia user slowking4, used under a creative commons license.