PHNOM PENH: A Diplomatic Briefing on Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship In 2022 was held on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Minister of Commerce, Pan Sorasak, delivered speech at the ceremony as the National Representative for the ASEAN Economic Community Council and the 2022 Chair of ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC). He presented Cambodia’s possible Priority Economics Deliverables (PEDs) under the ASEAN Economic Community Pillar (AEC).

He began by saying that Cambodia endeavors to steer ASEAN’s collective efforts towards promoting an action-oriented approach that is based on openness, honesty, good faith, solidarity, and harmony within ASEAN to effectively address the common challenges facing the region. He also stated that a foreseeable priority for the country is to ensure more satisfactory outcomes of ASEAN efforts to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He continued that in line with the theme of “ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together”, the AEC Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, Cambodia will guide ASEAN to accelerate and harmonize objectives in deepening regional and global integration processes and build back stronger from the pandemic. He stated the four Key Strategic Thrusts for the PEDs as:

1. Enhancing Digital Connectivity, Science and Technology

2. Narrowing the Development Gap for ASEAN’s Competitiveness

3. Promoting a More Integrated, Inclusive, Resilient and Competitive ASEAN; and

4. Strengthening Global ASEAN for Growth and Development

The Minister of Commerce went on to detail the proposed PEDs for the stated Key Strategic Thrusts, each of which had at least two, with proposed deliverables such as feasibility studies, frameworks, work programs and plans, toolkits, protocols, trade agreements, negotiations and guidelines.

Minister Pan Sorasak concluded his speech by highlighting that these PEDs had been circulated to other ASEAN Member States and relevant sectoral bodies through the ASEAN Secretariat for further view and comments, with the intention of treating it as a living document.

He reiterated that Cambodia is committed to steering ASEAN’s collective efforts to realize the possible PEDs and other annual priorities of ASEAN under the ASEAN Economic Community in a timely and effective manner, taking into consideration all suggestions and recommendations from all ASEAN Member States and relevant stakeholders.