PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prak Sokhonn, has received a visit from the Counselor of the Department of State of the United States of America, Derek Chollet, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, last Friday. The conversation between the two diplomats covered regional and international issues of common concern and interest. The US has committed to working closely with Cambodia as it will start chairing the ASEAN next month.

During his meeting with the Counselor of the United States Department of State, Derek Chollet, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, expressed Cambodia’s readiness to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022, and highlighted the country’s priorities across the three ASEAN Community Pillars. He emphasized the ‘ASEAN A.C.T.’, Addressing Challenges Together, theme, that Cambodia will be leading ASEAN under in 2022, which strives to promote ASEAN’s spirit as a united family with a high sense of “togetherness” in upholding peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.

The Deputy Prime Minister further welcomed the United States’ support for Cambodia’s role as ASEAN Chair, and resolves to accelerate ASEAN Community building efforts and promote ASEAN’s external relations. He also gave his appreciation to the United States for the country’s continued support to upholding ASEAN Centrality as well as peace and prosperity in the region.

On his part, Counselor Derek Chollet reaffirmed that ASEAN is central for U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region, and further stated that he is looking forward to working closely with Cambodia as the upcoming ASEAN Chair. He added that U.S. President, Joe Biden, is also looking forward to hosting the upcoming ASEAN-US Summit in Washington, D.C., during which both sides will discuss a wide range of issues and agendas, including ASEAN-US bilateral relations, Covid-19 response and post-pandemic recovery.