Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea, during a June 4 meeting with former Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian. Foreign ministry
The 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting (AMM) and related meetings is scheduled to take place in Vientiane, Laos, from July 24 to 27. At the invitation of Lao foreign minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea will lead a government delegation to the event.
The theme of this year’s conference is “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
“The meetings provide an opportunity to discuss ASEAN community-building work including innovative approaches to further enhance ASEAN cooperation to realise a more connected and resilient region for shared prosperity,” explained the foreign ministry, in a July 22 press release.
“The deputy prime minister will also attend separate meetings under Mekong cooperation frameworks with the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea, as well as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken,” it added.
During his stay in Vientiane, Chenda Sophea will join other ASEAN foreign ministers and the secretary-general of ASEAN to meet with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone
“He is also expected to conduct bilateral talks with his foreign counterparts to discuss mutually beneficial cooperation under bilateral and multilateral frameworks,” added the release.
Lao, in its capacity as ASEAN chair 2024, will host and chair the meetings at the National Convention Center in Vientiane.
At least 25 ministerial meetings will be attended by foreign ministers and representatives from 31 countries, with more than 1,000 delegates taking part. It is also expected that around 500 journalists will be on hand to cover the event, according to a July 18 statement from the ASEAN Laos 2024 website.
It explained that the meetings will focus on strengthening ASEAN community building and enhancing ASEAN resilience and connectivity, in line with the nine priority themes of the Lao ASEAN chairmanship.
They will also discuss the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, as well as the development of strategic plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
“The meetings will discuss cooperation between ASEAN and external partners through ASEAN-led mechanisms and feature an exchange of views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern,” it added.
