PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that no one had planned to prevent him from attending the G20 Summit and APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue when he tested positive for Covid-19 in Indonesia.

In a special audio message released by the Prime Minister from his home in Takhmao city, Kandal province, on Tuesday night, 15 November, he clarified that he had indeed tested positive for Covid-19 and that there was no trick being played to prevent him from attending the G20 Summit.

"I would like to eliminate any confusion or analysis that leads anyone to believe this (that the positive test result was just a trick to prevent the Prime Minister from attending the G20 Summit)," he said.

The Prime Minister confirmed that this year's G20 president, Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, personally wanted him to be present at the G20 meetings, along with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s desire for him to attend the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue in Bangkok. The leaders of the two countries had arranged for Prime Minister Hun Sen to deliver speeches and he had organized meetings with the leaders of other countries.

According to the original plan, Prime Minister Hun Sen would have addressed two sessions at the G20 Summit on food and energy security and on health issues, which would emphasize the importance of multilateralism and cooperation towards a goal of sustainable recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. While in Thailand, the Prime Minister was also scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Prime Minister Hun Sen tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday morning, 15 November, while in Bali, Indonesia to attend the G20 Summit. Upon receiving the positive test result, the Prime Minister decided to lead his delegation back to Cambodia the same night.

The Prime Minister has stated that his condition is currently normal, and that he is showing no symptoms or signs of illness, so he will continue to do his work, with the exception of meeting guests.