PHNOM PENH: Former Minister Attached to the Prime Minister, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, departed from Cambodia on Friday morning, 6 January, to Jakarta, Indonesia, in order to take up his position as the incumbent Secretary-General of ASEAN from 2023.

Speaking to EAC News before his departure, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn expressed his delight at assuming the new position and pledged to do his utmost to support both the ASEAN Chair and ASEAN activities.

It should be noted that, through the trust and support of the 2022 ASEAN Chair, Prime Minister Hun Sen, and the support of all 10 ASEAN members, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn was chosen as the next ASEAN Secretary-General, succeeding former Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, who completed his term. The former Minister Attached to the Prime Minister is the first Cambodian to hold the post of ASEAN Secretary-General.