PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged ASEAN leaders that integrating the new normal way is a necessary and appropriate task to make ASEAN a region a more competitive, resilient and environment friendly. He has delivered his remarks at the 27th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday morning.

With the slogan, "We care, we prepare, we grow" Cambodia’s Prime Minister urged ASEAN to implement the ASEAN Master Plan through infrastructure, institutional connectivity and connection between people. He made recommendations in a number of areas for ASEAN to operate smoothly in the new context by implementing the action plan under the ASEAN Comprehensive rehabilitation framework, emphasizing regional connectivity with further action in all parts of the transport sector.

 In addition to strengthening regional transport, Prime Minister Hun Sen has encouraged the ASEAN members to expedite the signing and implementation of the ASEAN-EU, ASEAN-New Zealand and ASEAN-Korea Air Transport Agreements which work as a bridge in connecting ASEAN to the world. In addition, he suggests to seek dialogue partners, funds and technical assistance to promote the development of further transport infrastructure in the region.

The Prime Minister says, "I would like to confirm to the ceremony that after Cambodia became a member of the International Transport Forum, I hope that Cambodia will be able to get and share good experiences and knowledge with other members in order to develop the transport sector of ASEAN as a whole."

 In line with the increase in transportation, the Prime Minister has requested ASEAN to continue to implement the ASEAN Transport Strategic Plan 2016-2025 and encourage the use of environmentally friendly vehicles to address the environmental impact caused by the use of energy, traffic jams, greenhouse gases and other pollutants. He has also emphasized to continue the efforts to solve traffic problems by implementing the existing legal instruments to reduce traffic accidents by at least 50% from 2021 to 2030.