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ASEAN diplomacy determines further growth, say experts

As Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, heads for the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (56th AMM) and Related Meetings in Indonesia, experts suggest Cambodia should further contribute to ASEAN unity and centrality for further growth and development of the country.

Thong Mengdavid, research fellow at Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute (AVI), said yesterday that ASEAN membership is strategically important for Cambodia as the regional grouping has contributed quite significantly to the political as well as security landscape of the country.

“Contributing to the ASEAN community-building process and upholding ASEAN’s unity and centrality should be priorities of Cambodia. It will further strengthen relations with external partners in pursuit of social and economic developments based on ASEAN principles, Five-Point Consensus and non-interference in others’ internal affairs,” he said.

“It is quite evident that Cambodia’s membership in ASEAN has been fruitful in boosting the country’s trade, investments, high economic growth and improving the well-being of the people,” Mengdavid added.

Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that Cambodia, within the framework of ASEAN membership, should strengthen the relations of member countries and promote the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and other key principles of the bloc.

Cambodia needs to be more involved in economic recovery, resolving the political crisis in Myanmar, the Russian-Ukrainian war and many other international issues in order to gather more friends from outside the region, he added.

“In the past Cambodia has used a lot of diplomacy through trade and other social agreements. We should continue such diplomatic practices with friendly countries for economic benefit and development in line with government policy,” Phea added.

Indonesia, as Chair of ASEAN 2023, has prepared several issues to be discussed with leaders of countries in the Southeast Asian region for the July 11-14 56th AMM and Related Meetings in Jakarta.

A statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that Sokhonn will be leading a delegation to attend the 56th AMM and Related Meetings, themed “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth following an invitation from his Indonesian counterpart Retno L.P. Marsudi.

The meetings will give an opportunity to further enhance ASEAN centrality and reinforce ASEAN’s external relations with all Dialogue Partners and other external parties to ensure that ASEAN remains highly relevant as the ‘Epicentre of Global Growth’, the statement added.

Several issues negotiated at the 42nd ASEAN Summit, Timor Leste membership, Myanmar crisis, prevention of human trafficking, migrant workers, fishery workers, health sector, electric vehicles, strengthening ASEAN capacity, and cross-border payments are some of the key topics of the four-day event.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com