Cambodia Committed to ASEAN: Outgoing Chair Hun Sen
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) shakes hands with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo as he passes on the ASEAN chairmanship to Indonesia at the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in Phnom Penh on November 13, 2022. Photo by TANG CHHIN SOTHY / AFP
- By Torn Chanritheara
- December 22, 2022 3:10 PM
PHNOM PENH – Cambodia is committed to playing a role in solving problem in the region, outgoing ASEAN Chair and Prime Minister Hun Sen says.
He thanked all partners for supporting Cambodia’s chairmanship which will pass to Indonesia at the end of the year.
About 130 documents had been adopted under the Cambodian leadership. These included documents from meetings of defense and economic ministers.
Addressing a new road inauguration ceremony in Preah Sihanouk province on Dec. 22., Hun Sen thanked people, officials and security personnel for their contribution to the successful organization of the ASEAN summit and related meetings.
The outgoing Chair also expressed appreciation for ASEAN member states and external partners for their support, understanding and flexibility so that the meetings could go smoothly.
As its chairmanship came to an end, the Prime Minister said Cambodia was committed to doing its part as an ASEAN member.
“Cambodia remains a member of ASEAN and Cambodia will continue to contribute to ASEAN in resolving unresolved issues and promoting the implementation of resolutions within the ASEAN framework and with partners,” he said.
“Our friends have encouraged us for our independent and rule-based diplomatic efforts.”
During the November summit, ASEAN leaders also agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as 11th member while deciding to stick to its five-points consensus to broker peace in Myanmar.
Myanmar has been in chaos after the military seized power from a democratically elected government, with violence breaking out across the country. Hun Sen said in his European trip this month that solving the Myanmar issue might take five years.
