A career diplomat with Japanese background. Currently, he is handling various multilateral portfolio including the Mekong cooperation. Other than foreign policy, his personal interest also covers government policies related to poverty reduction, stimulation of private sector, foreign direct investment, economic and industrial diversification, infrastructure development and the economic positioning of Cambodia within ASEAN. He studied seven years in Tokyo, receiving undergraduate degree from Hitotsubashi University and master degree from the University of Tokyo. He writes occasionally to international magazines and his writings can be accessed from his blog: https://simvireak.blogspot.com/