PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian Foreign Minister and ASEAN Special Envoy, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, delivered a speech to commemorate the 55th Anniversary of the Establishment of ASEAN, as the representative of the ASEAN Chair, on Monday, 8 August, via a pre-recorded video.

During his remarks, the DPM reflected on the long journey that ASEAN has been on, saying that ASEAN was once a region struggling with its security, stability and development, but is now a thriving region where suspicion has been turned into trust, and hostilities and confrontation have been turned into cooperation and development.

“With decades of relative peace and stability, ASEAN has prospered way beyond our expectations, with high growth development and a steady improvement of people’s well-being," he said.

He noted that over time ASEAN regionalism has matured, and its role in the multilateral world is now also widely respected and recognized, especially as the association has deepened and broadened its relationship with external partners. He added that ASEAN has worked diligently to ensure its centrality and unity are preserved and strengthened, with ASEAN centrality acting as the primary driving force behind dialogue and cooperation with external partners.

The ASEAN Special Envoy also commented on the rapidly changing global geopolitical landscape, which has recently presented monumental challenges for ASEAN. He said that while these challenges have always existed and tested ASEAN limits, the association has never before been confronted at the same time “with so many perils for the region and the world at large.”

However, the DPM said that ASEAN has, without fail, managed to show its resilience throughout difficult times in the past, and ASEAN still has great opportunity to accelerate economic growth through better connectivity. Particularly, he noted that the entering into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement at the start of 2022 spoke volumes of how ASEAN will capitalize on this mega free trade agreement to re-energize economic recovery in the region.

He further remarked that Cambodia has the honor of assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship for the third time this year, under the theme of “ASEAN A.C.T: Addressing Challenges Together.” He described the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (55th AMM) and related meetings held last week in Cambodia as a remarkable success that overcome the many burning issues and tremendous challenges of the present time.

He stressed that the meetings stayed focused on community building efforts and continuing to enhance and expand cooperation with external partners, to show that “ASEAN is still standing tall and strong during this critical time of great uncertainties in the region and the world.”

DPM Prak Sokhonn concluded his speech by saying that Cambodia believes ASEAN can forge ahead with confidence, driven by AEAN’s core spirit of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community,” and wished everyone a very happy ASEAN day.