PHNOM PENH, Cambodia 27 May 2024 – Kung Phoak, Cambodia's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, took center stage on May 24th as the country's ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) Leader at the 36th ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue held in Washington D.C.

The high-level meeting served as a platform to assess progress on key areas of cooperation within the ASEAN-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Discussions focused on charting a future path to strengthen the relationship further.

Participants acknowledged and commended Indonesia's successful leadership as the current country coordinator for ASEAN-U.S. relations. All eyes now turn to Cambodia, as the nation prepares to assume the lead coordinator role for the 2024-2027 term.

Beyond the leadership transition, the dialogue delved into pressing regional and international issues of mutual concern. Specific details of these discussions haven't been released, but the broad focus suggests a commitment to tackling shared challenges on a united front.

Kung Phoak's participation in the dialogue underscores Cambodia's growing prominence within ASEAN and its deepening relationship with the United States. The upcoming years under Cambodian leadership promise continued collaboration on critical issues impacting Southeast Asia and the broader international community.