PHNOM PENH: US President Joe Biden thanked the 2022 ASEAN Chair, Prime Minister Hun Sen, for taking a clear position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while considering ASEAN's importance to the United States, and the United States supporting ASEAN unity and friendship.

Speaking at a Bilateral Meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh during the ASEAN Summit, President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Hun Sen that the ASEAN community is very important to the United States, especially to his own administration, and the United States supports ASEAN unity and friendship.

The President praised Cambodia and the ASEAN Chair, for the effort to resolve the Myanmar conflict and return the country to its original state.

In response, the Prime Minister thanked President Biden for attending the Summit in Phnom Penh, which underscores the United States' commitment to ASEAN.

He also informed President Biden about Cambodia's cooperation with Japan to help Ukraine with demining and in combating the use of nuclear weapons.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also thanked the United States for sending Cambodia's ancient artifacts back home. The United States is currently the leading country in sending artifacts back to Cambodia.

The 2022 ASEAN Chair has said that Cambodia is one of the countries that has always opposed Russia's aggression and demanded that Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine. However, Cambodia also does not support sanctions placed against Russia, as they also have a negative effect on the rest of the world.

Ukraine became the 50th member of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) after signing on to the treaty on the afternoon of 10 November 2022.