US Embassy Believes ASEAN centrality in delivering sustainable solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges
Phnom Penh: The US Embassy in Cambodia says that the US-ASEAN Summit, which will be held in mid-May, will mark the 45th anniversary of US-ASEAN relations and demonstrate the United States’ enduring commitment to ASEAN centrality in delivering sustainable solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges.
Stephanie Arzate, spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, told EAC News that the United States welcomes the US-ASEAN Summit to be held in the middle of next month and the United States is working with the Cambodian government on shared priorities, including sustainable development, post-pandemic recovery, Mekong River environmental challenges, climate change, and human capital development.
The head of the Royal Government Spokesman, Phay Siphan, told EAC News that maintaining ASEAN centrality is something that Cambodia adheres to, whether as a member or as ASEAN chairman. He said that Cambodia has always adhered to the ASEAN Charter, the most important of which is consensus and the policy of peace and co-operation.
He said "Because we take ASEAN law seriously, because when there are other disputes, we take a diplomatic solution, we are neutral, we have a consensus, we are united, and no one is forcing us to follow who is who. And thirdly, when we talk about peace cooperation, it means that all countries are friends, not enemies. We cannot stand on either side to quarrel with each other, we must follow the law."
The ASEAN-US Summit will be held on May 12-13, 2022, the second special summit since 2016 and the first face-to-face meeting for leaders of both countries and two regions since 2017.
On January 14, 2022, US President Joe Biden issued an invitation to Prime Minister Hun Sen to attend the ASEAN-US Summit and stated, "I look forward to welcoming you to Washington on this auspicious occasion soon.”
