INTERNATIONAL: ASEAN has been urged to take strong against Myanmar. US Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken made the call during Wednesday’s special ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, hosted virtually by Laos. Cambodia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Prak Sokhonn, was also in attendance.

The US Secretary of State expressed deep concerns about the military coup in Myanmar. Mr. Antony Blinken says he supports ASEAN’s 5-point consensus but those five points need action, namely: ending the violence, initiating political dialogue, appointing a special envoy to facilitate mediation, providing humanitarian assistance and sending a delegation to the country to meet with its leaders.

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mr. Hishammuddin Hussein welcomed Blinken’s support, telling the meeting that he hoped it signalled a "refreshed commitment" to US multilateral cooperation in the region. He says this is the only way forward to ensure stability, peace, prosperity and security within Southeast Asia.

Cambodia's Foreign Minister Mr. Prak Sokhonn echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the importance of continued efforts to promote and protect human rights and democracy, while pointing out the need to recognize that no one size fits all. On Myanmar, he says the country’s stability is indispensable to that of the region, as well as to ASEAN Community Building.