Prime Minister Hun Sen (centre) speaks at the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh in November last year. Hong Menea
Prime Minister Hun Sen is due to join the 42nd ASEAN Summit and related meetings, to be held in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, from May 10-11.
This year’s summit will be held with the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentre of Growth”, according to a May 7 press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The visit came at the invitation of Indonesian president Joko (Jokowi) Widodo. The premier and his wife will be accompanied by, among others, foreign minister Prak Sokhonn, commerce minister Pan Sorasak and members of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC).
“The ASEAN leaders will deliberate on ways and means to sustain the momentum of ASEAN community building and advance ASEAN’s sustainable development agenda to realise an inclusive, participatory, and collaborative community. This will accelerate the development of the bloc’s post-2025 vision to make ASEAN a future-oriented community for a peaceful, stable, secure, prosperous and resilient region,” it added.
The attendees are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of common concerns and interests, including the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar and the ASEAN Leaders Decision, and the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific region.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, noted on May 7 that the ASEAN Summits are an annual and rotating occasion. The summits aim to promote the future of the ASEAN community in a sustainable and peaceful manner.
“This summit will continue to monitor and review political developments in Myanmar and the implementation of ASEAN’s unanimous decisions on the country, as well as regional and global issues such as the war in Ukraine. The war has affected the world economy in addition to politics,” he said.
The ministry’s press release added that during his stay in Labuan Bajo, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with several of his ASEAN counterparts and other dignitaries.
On the eve of the 42nd Summit, Sokhonn will take part in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM), the 26th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting and the 33rd ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting.
