Phnom Penh: Invitations have been issued for November’s ASEM13 summit which is to be hosted virtually by Cambodia. This is one of the main outcomes of the 3rd ASEM Senior Officials Meeting, co-chaired by Cambodia and Slovenia, as the President of the European council, on 16-17 September.

ASEM SOM was attended by representatives of all 51 participating countries, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, the European Union and the Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation.

Cambodia informed the meeting that the official invitations for ASEM13 have been extended to all Asia-Europe leaders, while some partner countries, as well as the President of the European Council and the ASEAN Secretary-General, have already confirmed their participation in the ASEM13 Summit. It will be held across the 25th and 26th of November. It was to have been held in person but was changed to a virtual summit given the prolonged pandemic around the world.

The meeting substantively discussed the draft of the Chair’s Statement to be adopted at ASEM13. ASEM SOM leaders have also agreed to have another drafting session later this month to discuss some remaining issues.

Cambodia and Slovenia has been praised by SOM leaders for keeping the ASEM momentum going towards a successful summit later this year as Cambodia prepares to take the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022.