PHNOM PENH, Dec 30 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia, the incoming chair of ASEAN for 2022, vowed to strengthen ASEAN centrality, in order to maintain and uphold peace, security and prosperity, the country’s Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, said yesterday.
Speaking during a diplomatic briefing on Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022, Sokhonn said, Cambodia will reinforce multilateralism and multilateral processes, through ASEAN-led mechanisms and concerted actions that will remain open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based.
He said, the kingdom will also foster mutual trust, respect, interest, and understanding, in accordance with the principles and objectives laid out in the United Nations Charter, ASEAN Charter, and Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, among others.
“ASEAN Centrality will be further strengthened, in the face of rising anti-globalisation sentiments, unilateralism and protectionism, while promoting the ASEAN Way, unity in diversity, caring and sharing community, and the culture of peace,” he said.
Sokhonn, who is also deputy prime minister, said, Cambodia will promote ASEAN’s spirit as a united family.
He added that, the kingdom will also do its best to reenergise and expand ASEAN’s partnerships with external partners, in order to maintain regional peace and stability, and to enhance the ASEAN community-building efforts.
Cambodian Commerce Minister, Pan Sorasak, said, Cambodia will endeavour to steer ASEAN’s collective efforts, to promote an action-oriented approach, that is based on openness, honesty, good faith, solidarity, and harmony within ASEAN, so as to effectively address the common challenges facing the region.
“Also, a foreseeable priority for us is, to ensure more satisfactory outcomes of ASEAN efforts, to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“In this regard, Cambodia commits to working closely with ASEAN and development partners, to sustain ASEAN as a region of critical importance for global trade, investment and supply chains through, among others, generating maximum benefits from the existing free trade agreements and especially the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which will enter into force on Jan 1, 2022,” he added.
Sorasak said, Cambodia will guide ASEAN to accelerate and harmonise ASEAN’s objectives, in deepening regional and global integration process and building back stronger from the pandemic with inclusiveness, competitiveness, resilience, sustainability and equitability.– NNN-AKP
