PHNOM PENH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has become the first country in Asia and the Pacific to achieve the global 95-95-95 HIV targets, said a joint press release on Friday.

This historic milestone "marks a major step in Cambodia's progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030," said the joint press release issued by the Cambodian government and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

The 95-95-95 targets mean that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of people who know their HIV-positive status are receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 95 percent of people on treatment have achieved viral suppression.

"Cambodia's success is built on strong political commitment, national leadership, long-term partnership, and the trust built through years of work with communities and the United Nations system," Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS regional director for Asia and the Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, who is currently visiting Cambodia.

Cambodia has consistently expanded access to HIV testing and treatment and multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral medicines, and increased availability of innovative prevention options such as long-acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV self-testing.

The Southeast Asian country has also supported people living with HIV and key populations through social protection and free access to health care.

"This achievement is a source of national pride, but it also comes with responsibility," said Ieng Mouly, a senior minister and chairman of the National AIDS Authority.

"Our task now is to make sure that progress is protected and sustained with stronger country ownership via increased domestic investment for the national HIV response," he added.

Health Minister Chheang Ra said this historic achievement marked a milestone for Cambodia's HIV response, yet the mission remained to reach the final mile and sustain these gains.

"We need to strengthen and expand HIV services with innovation and tailor to the needs of the communities to ensure services remain within reach, and every person can seek HIV prevention, testing and treatment with dignity and without discrimination, and at the same time, integrate these services into a resilient health system," he said.

Cambodia has around 76,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, a 2025 Ministry of Health report said, adding that nearly 700 AIDS-related deaths were recorded in 2025.

Although Cambodia is on a path to the elimination of new HIV infections, the HIV epidemic is not over, as new HIV infections continue, with 958 estimated in 2025, according to the press release.

"Elimination of new HIV infection with the target of fewer than 250 cases a year by 2030 is the core national target, but achieving it will require comprehensive and sustained strategic efforts," the press release said.

"Stigma, discrimination and other barriers still prevent some people from getting the services they need," it added.