On 17 January 2022, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, met with His Excellency Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
On this occasion, Samdech Techo Prime Minister highlighted key important tasks and the challenges that ASEAN is currently facing, especially the ASEAN connectivity, which was disrupted by the Covid-19. Samdech Techo said that we must do our best to revitalize the connectivities in order to promote tourism and trade within the region. Samdech Techo informed that Covid-19 in Cambodia is getting better; though there is a new variant of Covid-19 named Omicron, Cambodia can still handle it consistently.
Samdech Techo also highlighted the Myanmar situation, especially regarding the recent working visit to Myanmar. He pointed out that the visit aimed to help Myanmar, which is in a difficult situation, and raised the three main objectives of his visit to Myanmar as follows:
1) To have a ceasefire talk aiming at ending violence and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
2) To provide humanitarian assistance to those in need in Myanmar
3) To open the door for negotiation and finding solutions and pave the way for ASEAN Special Envoy.
Besides this, Samdech Techo Prime Minister highlighted the importance of establishing the ASEAN Troika, which composes of the past, incumbent, and the incoming chair of ASEAN, together with the support of the ASEAN Secretary-General.
Regarding the South China Sea, Samdech Techo Prime Minister raised that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the DOC and thanked the ASEAN Secretary-General and all stakeholders for agreeing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the DOC. Samdech stressed that we will continue to accelerate the COC negotiation and asked ASEAN Secretary-General to contribute to the negotiations to move forward.
With the Indo-Pacific Concept, Samdech Techo Prime Minister encouraged the ASEAN Secretary-General and Indonesia to promote the preparation of Plans of Action, that support and line with the ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific.
Samdech Techo also mentioned Timor-Leste's membership, emphasizing that we have been doing this work for 11 years. The country has been waiting for a long time and requested the ASEAN Secretary-General to support Timor-Leste in joining ASEAN.
Samdech Techo also mentioned that Cambodia, as a Chair-ASEAN this year, plans to host the ASEAN Global Dialogue and asked for support from ASEAN Secretary-General. The theme of this dialogue will be on post-Covid-19 comprehensive recovery by inviting key international actors to participate.
In response, the Secretary-General of ASEAN thanked Samdech Techo Prime Minister, for his recommendations and guidance for the work of ASEAN in 2022. He emphasized his efforts to work with the ASEAN Chair this year and other areas that Cambodia leads, including the issue of Covid-19. He raised that we plan to have Health Ministers’ Meeting to promote cooperation against Covid-19. Furthermore, his Excellency ASEAN Secretary-General emphasized working closely with other ASEAN members to promote ASEAN economic growth.
On the 20th anniversary of the DOC, His Excellency ASEAN Secretary-General raised that he will put forth his efforts to have this work done and ready to support the conduct of meetings to promote the progress of negotiations on the COC. Regarding the Indo-Pacific vision, he emphasized that he will work with the chair of ASEAN and Indonesia to develop and roll out its plan of action. He also stressed his support for Cambodia on the initiative to hold ASEAN Global Dialogue in 2022. Regarding the situation in Myanmar, He also supported Cambodia's initiatives, especially on the implementation of five points consensus. As for Timor-Leste's membership, the ASEAN Secretariat of General will continue to provide special support and training to Timor-Leste officials. He stressed that he wanted to see the progress of Timor-Leste's readiness to become a new member of ASEAN.
Samdech Techo also informed the ASEAN Secretariat-General on organizing a plenary meeting to carry out humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, emphasizing that Japan has also supported the idea of conducting a meeting on humanitarian assistance in Myanmar.
