Prime Minister Hun Sen, in his capacity as ASEAN chair this year, will lead a delegation to attend and co-chair the ASEAN-US Special Summit in Washington from May 12-13, held to commemorate 45 years of relations and dialogue partnership.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in May 9 a press statement that Hun Sen, who is attending at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, will be accompanied by foreign minister Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol, Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak, and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hang Chuon Naron.

Hun Sen, on the sidelines of the summit, will meet with Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives at Capitol Hill and will attend a welcome dinner with President Biden at the White House.

“ASEAN leaders will also be meeting with American business leaders to discuss cooperation. They will also meet with Vice-President Kamala Harris and US Cabinet Secretaries on issues related to climate action, clean energy and sustainable infrastructure,” the statement said.

“An exchange of views on regional and international issues and on how to bring ASEAN-US Partnership to new heights will be the highlights of this Special Summit,” it added.

Hun Sen will also have bilateral meetings with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and other leaders of ASEAN member states.

The premier has said that he also plans to meet with nearly 1,000 compatriots living in the US.

Analysts said the ASEAN-US special summit this year will reinvigorate and promote the partnership, which he said seemed to have been ignored by the Trump administration.